The International Criminal Court (ICC) has clarified that it has not issued new arrest warrants for Israeli political and military officials, countering a recent claim by Haaretz. The report alleged that the court in The Hague discreetly sought warrants for several high-ranking Israeli officials.
The Haaretz article, citing a diplomatic source, suggested that the warrants were aimed at three Israeli politicians and two Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) officials.
ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet stated in a communication with journalists that the report from Haaretz is inaccurate, affirming that the court “denies the issuance of new arrest warrants regarding the situation in the state of Palestine.”
As of now, the only publicly available ICC arrest warrants against senior Israeli figures were those issued in November 2024 against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.
International law expert Prof. Eliav Lieblich remarked to Haaretz that the ICC does not have a legal obligation to inform suspects about the issuance of arrest warrants.
“The reasons for making the warrants public, as seen in the cases of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Netanyahu, and Gallant, are based on deterrence. On the other hand, keeping them secret can increase the likelihood that the person will appear in locations where they can be apprehended,” he explained.
On Thursday, attorneys for a Palestinian man from Gaza made a formal request to the ICC prosecutor, asking for the investigation of 14 Hamas leaders for crimes committed against the Palestinian people.
To date, the ICC has not charged any Hamas leader regarding crimes against Palestinian civilians. This is notable considering that the ICC has already charged leaders from both Hamas and Israel for crimes against each other’s populations during the Israel-Hamas War.
Mathilda Heller and Reuters contributed to this report.
This is a developing story.
Key Takeaways
- The ICC has denied issuing new arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
- Current known ICC warrants date back to November 2024 against Netanyahu and Gallant.
- Secrecy around warrants can help increase chances of successful arrests.
- Attorneys for a Gaza man have formally requested an investigation into Hamas leaders.
- No Hamas leaders have yet been charged with crimes against Palestinian civilians.
FAQ
What did the ICC spokesperson say about the arrest warrants?
The ICC spokesperson, Oriane Maillet, stated that the reports were inaccurate and confirmed that no new arrest warrants have been issued.
Who are the individuals that currently have ICC warrants?
The only known individuals with ICC warrants, as of now, are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.
What was mentioned regarding secrecy in the issuance of warrants?
Experts noted that keeping warrants under wraps might improve the likelihood of apprehending suspects.
What actions have been taken regarding Hamas leaders?
Lawyers for a Palestinian individual submitted a formal request for the investigation of 14 Hamas leaders for crimes against their own people.
Have there been any charges against Hamas leaders?
Currently, the ICC has not charged any Hamas leaders with crimes against Palestinian civilians despite existence of charges against them from previous conflicts.
