Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a press conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel on Oct. 28, 2023.
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) — The International Criminal Court prosecutor’s office said on Monday it had requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defense chief and three Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes.
Prosecutor Karim Khan’s office said it suspected all five — Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Al-Masri and Ismail Haniyeh — bore criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Israel or the Gaza Strip.
Israel has denied committing war crimes in the Gaza war, triggered by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
The ICC’s decision “equates the victim with the executioner,” a senior Hamas official told Reuters.
It will be up to the court’s pre-trial judges to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to issue warrants.
