15.13°C Vancouver

Nov 21, 2024 1:50 PM - The Canadian Press

International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas officials

Share On
international-criminal-court-issues-arrest-warrants-for-netanyahu-and-hamas-officials
The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects and is likely tofurther isolate themand complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-fire to end the 13-month conflict.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas officials,accusing them of war crimesand crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory.

The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects and is likely tofurther isolate themand complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-fire to end the 13-month conflict. But its practical implications could be limited since Israel and its major ally, the United States, are not members of the court and several of the Hamas officials have been subsequently killed in the conflict.

Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request for warrants as disgraceful and antisemitic. U.S. President Joe Biden also blasted the prosecutor and expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. Hamas also slammed the request.

“The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity,” the three-judge panel wrote in its unanimous decision to issue warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant.

The court also issued a warrant for the arrest of Mohammed Deif, one of the leaders of Hamas. The ICC chief prosecutor had also sought warrants for two other senior Hamas figures, Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, but they were both killed in the conflict.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in September that it had submitted two legal briefs challenging the ICC's jurisdiction and arguing that the court did not provide Israel the opportunity to investigate the allegations itself before requesting the warrants.

“No other democracy with an independent and respected legal system like that which exists in Israel has been treated in this prejudicial manner by the Prosecutor,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein wrote on X. He said Israel remained “steadfast in its commitment to the rule of law and justice” and would continue to protect its citizens against militancy.

The ICC is a court of last resort that only prosecutes cases when domestic law enforcement authorities cannot or will not investigate. Israel is not a member state of the court. The country has struggled to investigate itself in the past, rights groups say.

Despite the warrants, none of the suspects is likely to face judges in The Hague any time soon. The court itself has no police to enforce warrants, instead relying on cooperation from its member states.

Even so, the threat of arrest could make it difficult for Netanyahu and Gallant to travel abroad, although Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is wanted on an ICC warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, recently showed he could still visit an ally when he traveled to Mongolia, one of the court’s member states, and was not arrested.

Khan sought warrants in May, accusing Netanyahu and Gallant of crimes including murder, intentionally attacking civilians, and persecution.

In a statement at the time, Khan alleged that Israel “has intentionally and systematically deprived the civilian population in all parts of Gaza of objects indispensable to human survival” by closing border crossings into the territory and restricting essential supplies including food and medicine.

At the same time, he accused three Hamas leaders — Sinwar, Deif and Haniyeh — of crimes linked to the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and abducting another 250. The three leaders are accused of crimes including murder, extermination, taking hostages, rape and torture.

“The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Deif, born in 1965, the highest commander of the military wing of Hamas (known as the al-Qassam Brigades) at the time of the alleged conduct, is responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder; extermination; torture; and rape and other form of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture,; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and rape and other forms of sexual violence,” a statement says.

Prosecutors withdrew their request for a warrant for Haniyeh, who was assassinated in what was believed to be anIsraeli strike in Iranin July. Israel also claims to have killed Deif, but Hamas hasn’t confirmed his death. Sinwar, who was promoted to succeed Haniyeh as Hamas’ leader, waskilled in a chance front-line encounterwith Israeli troops in October.


Latest news

potential-strike-notice-looms-for-air-canada
CanadaAug 12, 2025

Potential strike notice looms for Air Canada

The union representing around 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants could signal its intent to strike if a deal isn't reached by the end of today.The earliest that flight attendants could potentially walk off the job is Saturday at 12:01 a.m. ET.Since the union must provide 72-hours notice if it plans to strike, that means it could declare its plans for a work stoppage by Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. ET.Air Canada said yesterday it "remains at the bargaining table and is focused on achieving a negotiated settlement" without any disruption to travel.Flights are continuing to operate as scheduled, but
police-appeal-for-witnesses-to-sexual-assault
CanadaAug 12, 2025

Police Appeal for Witnesses to Sexual Assault

A man has been arrested and charged in a Surrey Police Service (SPS) investigation of a sexual assault allegation that occurred on August 5, 2025, and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. The alleged sexual assault took place at 12:15 pm on August 5, 2025, outside the Tim Horton’s located at 8080 120 Street and the Salvation Army Thrift Store located at 8066 120 Street, Surrey. SPS’s Special Investigation Unit has taken over the investigation and is now appealing to the public for any witnesses or those who may have CCTV and/or dashcam footage to come forward in the hopes o
bridge-replacement-will-improve-highway-1-through-fraser-canyon
BCAug 12, 2025

Bridge replacement will improve Highway 1 through Fraser Canyon

Work will get underway in fall 2025 on a project to replace the aging Sackum overhead bridge on the Trans-Canada Highway east of Lytton, improving safety and supporting the long-term reliability of Highway 1 in the region. The project includes the design and construction of a modern two-lane bridge over the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) rail line. Additional upgrades will improve safety by realigning a section of the highway north of the bridge. This upgrade will remove a short passing lane that no longer meets standards, and create a gentler curve, wider and more consistent shoulders
canada-condemns-israel-over-deaths-of-journalists-new-restrictions-on-aid
CanadaAug 12, 2025

Canada condemns Israel over deaths of journalists, new restrictions on aid

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says a "famine is unfolding" in Gaza which will be made even worse by new restrictions by Israel on international aid groups.Anand signed a joint statement along with two dozen foreign ministers from Europe, Asia and Australia today which says the humanitarian suffering in Gaza is already at "unimaginable levels."Israel denies widespread claims that starvation is taking place in Gaza amid strict controls on what aid enters the territory and how food is allowed to be distributed.The statement comes a day after Ottawa condemned the Israeli military's killing
surrey-police-service-pilots-biometric-scanning-for-jail-cells
CanadaAug 12, 2025

Surrey Police Service Pilots Biometric Scanning for Jail Cells

Surrey Police Service (SPS) has taken steps to monitor the health and safety of those in custody in SPS’s jail cells by using biometric scanners. In March 2025, SPS began the process of installing biometric scanners in several adult and youth detention cells as part of a pilot project to determine whether biometrics could be used to better monitor and safeguard the health of those in SPS’s custody. This innovative approach to ensuring detainee’s health uses continuous, non-invasive monitoring of vital health metrics, enabling timely interventions and personalized care. From tracking h

Related News