ICC Prosecutor seeks Warrants against Hamas, Israeli PM and Defence Minister for committing War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity

International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor - Karim Khan | Photo Credit : ICC

By Vineet Malik | May 21, 2024 | London, England

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan moved an application yesterday to the ICC Judes in The Hague, The Netherlands to issue arrest warrants against Head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) - Yahya Sinwar, Commander-in-chief of the military wing of Hamas - Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al – Masri and Head of Hamas Political Bureau – Ismail Haniyeh for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, Palestine in October last year.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister of Israel – Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant aren’t spared either. They have been accused for crimes of causing extermination/mass killings, starvation as a method of war including the denial of humitarian relief supplies and deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.

Khan says “We have expert evidence. The whole variety of information that we have authenticated is sufficient to sustain the crimes that we have put forward to the ICC Judges.

We have a realistic prospect of conviction in relation to the warrants being sought against the offenders. We have applied a yardstick of legality to conduct for which, the ICC Judges must determine.

The words of the Secretary General of the United Nations, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East that concerns well being of cilvilians and compliance of international law and international humitarian law have been put to one side.

Israel, like all states, has a right to take action to defend its population. That right, however, does not absolve Israel or any State of its obligation to comply with international humitarian law.

Today we once again underline that international law and the laws of armed conflict apply to all. No foot soldier, no commander, no civilians leader – no one – can act with impunity. Nothing can justify willfully depriving human beings, including so many women and children, the basic necessities required for life. Nothing can justify the taking of hostages or the targeting of civilians."

The statement of the ICC chief prosecutor ends with a firm message that says “Now, more than ever, must collectively demonstrate that international humanitarian law, the foundational baseline for human conduct during conflict applies to all individuals and across the situations addressed by my Office and the Court. This is how we will prove, tangibly that the lives of all human beings have equal value.”

The complete statement of the ICC chief prosecutor can be read here.