Israel urges ICC to withdraw arrest warrants for Netanyahu

Israel has formally requested that judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) withdraw pending arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as the court continues to review Israel’s legal challenges against its jurisdiction over the ongoing Gaza conflict.

In documents released late Sunday on the ICC’s official website, Israeli legal representatives asked the court to halt any further action against its top political and military leadership, arguing that the court lacks jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed in the Palestinian Territories.

The move is part of a broader effort by Israel to suspend the ICC’s war crimes investigation tied to the military campaign in Gaza that began in October 2023.

The filings also requested that the ICC prosecutor’s office be ordered to freeze its investigation while the judges deliberate on Israel’s jurisdictional objections.

According to Israeli officials, the investigation and issuance of arrest warrants undermine Israel’s sovereignty and its independent legal system, which they argue is capable of addressing any alleged misconduct.

The ICC has not publicly confirmed whether it has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu or Gallant, but sources close to the case have said that prosecutor Karim Khan is pursuing warrants in connection to Israel’s military actions that have resulted in thousands of Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza.

Israel is not a member of the ICC and does not recognize its authority. However, the court asserts jurisdiction based on Palestine’s status as a member state since 2015. That legal basis remains a point of fierce dispute between the two parties and is central to Israel’s current challenge.

The ICC’s pre-trial chamber is expected to consider Israel’s jurisdictional objections in the coming weeks. In the meantime, international pressure continues to mount on both sides of the conflict.

Rights groups have welcomed the ICC’s scrutiny, while Israeli officials maintain that the country’s military has acted in accordance with international law.

The outcome of the legal proceedings could have far-reaching implications for the ICC’s role in future conflicts, especially involving non-member states, and for international accountability in war zones.