10.3°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

b-c-advances-new-mass-timber-demonstration-projects
BCSep 23, 2025

B.C. advances new mass-timber demonstration projects

Four new buildings in B.C. are each receiving $500,000 — totalling $2 million — to demonstrate and showcase the benefits of mass-timber construction. “Mass timber represents a transformative, locally sourced solution that’s generating significant employment opportunities, spurring cutting-edge innovation, and revitalizing rural economies across British Columbia,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. “Through our continued strategic investments in projects throughout the province, we’re positioning B.C. as a leader in mass-timber construction, while building the
dera-beas-chief-visits-bikram-majithia-in-nabha-jail
IndiaSep 23, 2025

Dera Beas chief visits Bikram Majithia in Nabha jail

Dera Beas chief Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon reached Nabha jail today, where he met Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia. The Akali leader (Bikram Majithia) has been kept in judicial custody in the jail by the Punjab government in a case of exceeding income.The two held a closed-door meeting that lasted 35 minutes, jail officials said. Reports quoted a jail official who requested anonymity, “The Dera Beas chief had sought permission to meet Majithia as a family member, and it was granted strictly according to the jail manual.” Dhillon has close family ties with Majithia’s wife
search-for-missing-five-year-old-boy-in-southern-alberta-enters-third-day
AlbertaSep 23, 2025

Search for missing five-year-old boy in southern Alberta enters third day

The search for a five-year-old boy in southwestern Alberta is entering its third day. RCMP say two nights of searches have yielded no results in finding Darius Macdougall. Macdougall went missing Sunday after he didn't return from a walk with six family members to their campsite near Island Lake Campground, south of Crowsnest Pass. Mounties have said people should avoid the area and leave the search to the professionals. Darius is described as four feet tall with short brown hair, and he was last seen wearing a blue-grey hoodie and sweatpants. Police said the boy has autism, w
gary-anandsangri-announces-government-gun-buyback-program
CanadaSep 23, 2025

Gary Anandasangaree announces government gun buyback program

Canada's Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has announced the launch of the government's gun buyback program. Anandasangaree said that starting Tuesday, the government is launching a voluntary gun buyback program with a pilot project in Nova Scotia and it will be fully implemented after the fall. The minister said that we are serious about removing assault-style weapons from our communities and they have no place in Canada. In May 2020, the Canadian government declared about 2,500 types of guns illegal as part of a strategy to combat gun violence. The Public Safety Minister said that t
frauds-frauds-and-more-frauds
BCSep 23, 2025

Nanaimo RCMP warns about frauds

Frauds are increasingly woven into the fabric of our daily lives, through emails, phone calls and social media. As technology evolves, so do the tactics of deceit and their delivery. By staying informed and skeptical, we can better protect ourselves and our communities. Nanaimo file # 2025-29161 Grandson scam Caller told police she was scammed for $1700 after being led to believe her grandson needed money to get out of jail. Caller that that in September 2025, she received a phone call from a private number who said they were the RCMP and that her grandson had been arrested after being inv

Related News