The ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity on Thursday.
The ICC charged Netanyahu and Gallant with crimes against humanity, such as murder, persecution, and inhumane acts, along with the war crime of using starvation as a tactic in warfare.
They reportedly limited crucial resources like food, water, and medical assistance to civilians in Gaza, resulting in serious humanitarian emergencies and fatalities, including children.
Israel retaliated against Hamas’ surprise attack on Gaza on October 7 last year by launching their own attacks. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in the fatalities of thousands of non-combatants, with hundreds of thousands being forced to flee their homes.
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Israel promised to destroy Hamas and in the process, the main structures in Gaza such as hospitals and schools were destroyed as well.
The Court determined there were valid reasons to believe the defendant intentionally focused on civilians and restricted access to medical resources, leading to risky medical treatments and significant suffering. The court judgment was made according to the discoveries from October 8, 2023, to at least May 20, 2024.
“The Chamber assessed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Gaza,” the court said.
The ICC observed that the absence of food, water, electricity, fuel, and medical supplies led to circumstances that could cause harm to a portion of the civilian population in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of civilians, including children, from malnourishment and lack of fluids.
