ICC prosecutor urges judges to urgently rule on warrants for Israeli, Hamas officials

Khan stressed that the court had jurisdiction over Israeli nationals who commit atrocity crimes in the Palestinian territories and asked the judges to dismiss legal challenges filed by several dozen governments and other parties.
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court stressed the court had jurisdiction to investigate Israeli nationals and asked judges to urgently decide on arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister Yoav Gallant.
In court filings made public Friday, prosecutor Karim Khan urged judges weighing the arrest warrants sought against Israeli officials and Hamas leaders to not delay.
More To Read
- UN Women says 1 million women, girls starving in Gaza
- AU welcomes France’s planned recognition of Palestine as a step towards peace
- China backs UN push for two-State solution amid Gaza conflict
- US agency report clears Hamas of diverting humanitarian aid in Gaza
- France to officially recognise Palestinian state in September, Emmanuel Macron announces
- Gaza war: Global coalition demands unconditional ceasefire, condemns civilian killings
"Any unjustified delay in these proceedings detrimentally affects the rights of victims," he said.
Khan stressed that the court had jurisdiction over Israeli nationals who commit atrocity crimes in the Palestinian territories and asked the judges to dismiss legal challenges filed by several dozen governments and other parties.
"It is settled law that the court has jurisdiction in this situation," the filing said, dismissing legal arguments based on provisions in the Oslo Accords and assertions by Israel that it is carrying out its own investigations into alleged war crimes.
ICC prosecutors say there are reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant, as well as Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, military chief Mohammed Al-Masri, and another Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, bear criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran in late July. The court has since declined to comment on reports of his death. Israel has said it killed Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, in another airstrike but Hamas would neither confirm nor deny that news.
Israel and Palestinian leaders have dismissed allegations of war crimes, and representatives for both sides have criticised Khan's decision to seek warrants.
There is no deadline for judges to decide on warrants.
Top Stories Today