Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) decisively rejected Israel’s request to withdraw arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday. This decision comes as the ICC reviews Israeli challenges regarding its jurisdiction over the Gaza war.
Furthermore, judges also dismissed Israel’s request to suspend the broader investigation into alleged atrocity crimes in the Palestinian Territories, with their decision published on the ICC’s official website
Warrants Remain Amid Jurisdiction Dispute
The ICC issued arrest warrants on 21 November for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict. However, in February, the ICC withdrew the warrant for al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, citing credible reports of his death.
Israel continues to reject the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies committing war crimes in Gaza. The country has conducted a military campaign aimed at eliminating Hamas since the deadly attack by the militant Palestinian group on 7 October, 2023. Israel is actively contesting the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.
Israel argues that an appeals chamber decision in April, which ordered the pre-trial chamber to review its objections to the court’s jurisdiction, invalidates the warrants. However, the judges deemed this reasoning incorrect. They stated on Wednesday that Israel’s jurisdictional challenge to the arrest warrants remains pending. Consequently, the warrants will stay in effect until the court specifically rules on this issue.
Future Implications
Currently, there is no timeline for a ruling on jurisdiction in this case. In June, the United States imposed sanctions on four ICC judges, marking an unprecedented retaliation for the court’s issuance of an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. Notably, two of the sanctioned judges participated in the panel that ruled against Israel’s request to withdraw the warrants.
The ICC’s defiance of Israeli and U.S. pressure underscores the court’s resolve to hold leaders accountable, even as the case amplifies debates over its authority. With no end in sight, the ruling keeps the Gaza conflict—and its global repercussions—in the judicial spotlight.
