According to sources, Israel and the US are working together to prevent the International Criminal Court (ICC) from issuing an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials. The possibility of an arrest warrant has put pressure on Netanyahu, causing him to have ongoing discussions with relevant parties, including the administration of US President Joe Biden.
Experts believe that an ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu and others could greatly harm Israel’s international reputation. In addition to Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi are also said to be at risk of being arrested by the ICC.
Israel is not a member of the ICC and does not recognize its jurisdiction. However, despite this, the ICC has launched an investigation into allegations of war crimes committed by Israel during the 2014 campaign against Hamas, settlement programs in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and the treatment of Palestinian protesters in the Gaza Strip.
In a separate case, South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for allegedly committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The ICJ ruled that Israel must fulfill its humanitarian obligations in the Gaza Strip and prevent any acts of inciting genocide. While the court did not consider the claim of genocide against Israel, it was a significant victory for Palestinians seeking justice for their suffering in Gaza.