ICC Seeks Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Sinwar

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has urged pretrial judges to urgently decide on arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, insisting that the court has jurisdiction. In his May request, Khan accused Israeli and Hamas leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza and Israel. Khan's urgency is driven by the belief that delays negatively impact victims' rights. Israel and Hamas have dismissed these allegations, with Netanyahu calling them a 'disgrace' and Hamas condemning the equivalence made between 'victim and executioner.' Legal debates focus on whether the ICC's jurisdiction is overruled by the Oslo Accords, which state Palestinians lack criminal jurisdiction over Israeli nationals. The court's decision could significantly impact the international travel and diplomatic engagements of the accused leaders.