Wanted: Benjamin Netanyahu by International Criminal Court



The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Mohammed Deif (Hamas/IQB), and former Defence Minister Yoav Galant.

“The Chamber issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest,” a press release on the ICC website reads.

International Criminal COurt issues warrant for Netanyahu

ICC photo credit: International Criminal Court


“The arrest warrants are classified as ‘secret’, in order to protect witnesses and to safeguard the conduct of the investigations. However, the Chamber decided to release the information below since conduct similar to that addressed in the warrant of arrest appears to be ongoing. Moreover, the Chamber considers it to be in the interest of victims and their families that they are made aware of the warrants’ existence,” said the statement.

The U.S .Congress promised to impose sanctions against the leadership of the International Criminal Court if it issues an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. It did.

“I looks like it’s not just America against the women and children of Gaza, Ukraine and Russia but America against the world,” commented Dale Carter, security director of The RINJ Foundation who was just coming out of a meeting with the organization’s security contractor.

“Congress is exploring all options, including sanctions, to punish the ICC and ensure that its leadership faces consequences if it takes steps in this direction. If the ICC is allowed to threaten the Israeli leadership, we could be next.” U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement.

Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu looking like a thug on X.com said one comment. – Art,  enhancement: Rosa Yamamoto / Feminine-Perspective-Magazine

Mohammed Deif - IQB

ICC Pre-Trial Chamber issues warrant of arrest for Mohammed Deif, head of the ‘al-Qassam Brigades’, Hamas’ fighting wing.


Decisions on requests by the State of Israel

The Chamber ruled on two requests submitted by the Israel on 26 September 2024. In the first request, Israel challenged the Court’s jurisdiction over the Situation in the State of Palestine in general, and over Israeli nationals more specifically, on the basis of article 19(2) of the Statute. In the second request, Israel requested that the Chamber order the Prosecution to provide a new notification of the initiation of an investigation to its authorities under article 18(1) of the Statute. Israel also requested the Chamber to halt any proceedings before the Court in the relevant situation, including the consideration of the applications for warrants of arrest for Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, submitted by the Prosecution on 20 May 2024.

As to the first challenge, the Chamber noted that the acceptance by Israel of the Court’s jurisdiction is not required, as the Court can exercise its jurisdiction on the basis of territorial jurisdiction of Palestine, as determined by Pre-Trial Chamber I in a previous composition. Furthermore, the Chamber considered that pursuant to article 19(1) of the Statute, States are not entitled to challenge the Court’s jurisdiction under article 19(2) prior to the issuance of a warrant of arrest. Thus Israel’s challenge is premature. This is without prejudice to any future possible challenges to the Court’s jurisdiction and/or admissibility of any particular case.

Decision on Israel’s challenge to the jurisdiction of the Court pursuant to article 19(2) of the Rome Statute

The Chamber also rejected Israel’s request under article 18(1) of the Statute. The Chamber recalled that the Prosecution notified Israel of the initiation of an investigation in 2021. At that time, despite a clarification request by the Prosecution, Israel elected not to pursue any request for deferral of the investigation. Further, the Chamber considered that the parameters of the investigation in the situation have remained the same and, as a consequence, no new notification to the State of Israel was required. In light of this, the judges found that there was no reason to halt the consideration of the applications for warrants of arrest.

Decision on Israel’s request for an order to the Prosecution to give an Article 18(1) notice