Israel encounters unusual obstacles amid intensifying legal and diplomatic strain.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is now amongst other world leaders branded as international pariahs, as the International Criminal Court tries to acquire an arrest warrant for him and his Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant over suspicions of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel's war in Gaza.
The court has previously tried to arrest individuals like Sudan's Omar Al Bashir, Russia's Vladimir Putin, and Libya's Muammar Gaddafi.
The International Court of Justice recently commanded Israel to immediately cease its controversial military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, describing the humanitarian situation there as "disastrous" and anticipating it to "worsen further".
Almost eight months after Hamas's attack on Israel which resulted in the death of about 1,200 people and 250 hostages, Israel's war till now has failed to meet its goals. Top Hamas leaders remain uncaptured and 125 hostages are still being held in Gaza.
Israel is now witnessing immense pressure from all levels: US colleges, international courts, American celebrities, Western allies, and even the families of Israeli hostages.
However, the legal and diplomatic measures against Israel this month could have the most considerable impact.
Israeli officials are working hard to handle the repercussions. They've accused critics of antisemitism and promised not to yield to international tension. In a significant speech at the start of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Netanyahu announced: "Even if Israel is compelled to stand alone, we will stand alone, and we will persist in strongly attacking our foes till victory."
For years, Israeli officials have objected to unilateral recognitions of Palestinian statehood due to the fear of permitting the Palestinians to bring Israel to international courts and weakening their position in future peace talks.
Nonetheless, with no intention of recognizing Palestinian independence, a few nations have decided to act independently. This week, Ireland, Spain, and Norway revealed intentions to formally acknowledge a Palestinian state. As a result, Israel recalled its ambassadors from all three countries.
Despite the escalating international measures, Netanyahu is also feeling domestic pressure to settle a deal with Hamas, so the hostages may be released. With the hostage ceasefire dialogues at a stop, family members of the captives are mounting pressure on the prime minister to get back to negotiations.
This week, the families of seven female Israeli soldiers held by Hamas unveiled graphic footage of their capture to put more pressure on the government.
Yet, there are indications that the talks may resume. The Israeli war cabinet authorized the negotiation team to re-engage, but the resumption date was not specified. Additionally, CIA Director Bill Burns has traveled to Europe to help restart the discussions, according to a US official. The Israelis are "highly involved," the official added.
Though the decisions of the ICJ and ICC have challenged Western states' commitment to the rules-based global system as they wrestle with the expanding legal cases against their ally in these international courts, it has created a rift between Israel's Western allies and a growing group of Global South countries encompassing Asia, Africa, and South America that call for Israel to be held responsible for its activities in Gaza.
In a recent ICJ case, Germany faced defending their weapon sales to Israel against allegations of "facilitating genocide" propounded by Nicaragua. Despite the strain, the court dismissed the demand for an instant cease to Germany's arms trade with Israel.
Similarly, the ICC's decision to target Netanyahu and Gallant has split Israel's Western allies.
In a conversation with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Karim Khan, the ICC's prosecutor, accounted for a talk with a senior leader who said, "This court is built for Africa and for rogues like Putin," highlighting the intricate nature of such international legal proceedings.
Whereas the United States and the United Kingdom denounced the move, European nations like France, Germany, and others maintained the court's autonomy and did not dismiss the prospects of detaining Israeli officials if they entered their territory after the warrant was provided.
And the court is simultaneously seeking arrest warrants for three top Hamas officials: Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammed Deif. The panel of judges at the ICC is deliberating whether to grant these warrants.
The reaction to the warrant request has been exceptionally intense in the US Congress, with a bipartisan drive to punish the ICC in progress, possibly involving sanctions. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken intends to collaborate with Congress on legislation to penalize the ICC.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican leader in the Congress's efforts against the ICC, stated at a Senate hearing this week, "If they do this to Israel, we're the next targets." This statement underscores how much support Israel still has, even when facing significant pressure.
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Israel's international standing has faced significant challenges, with leaders like Netanyahu and Gallant being compared to pariahs from other parts of the world, such as Sudan, Russia, and Libya, due to allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Middle East.
The International Court of Justice's recent call for Israel to halt its operations in Gaza, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation, has further strained Israel's relationships with various nations around the world.
Source: edition.cnn.com
