Israeli Prime Minister refutes claims of purposely depriving Gazans of food during conflict.
On Monday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan announced that he's requested arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders and two Israeli politicians, Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the October 7 attacks in Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza.
According to Khan, the allegations against Netanyahu and Gallant involve causing extermination, starvation as a war tactic, denying humanitarian aid supplies, and targeting civilians in conflicts. Netanyahu, responding to these accusations during an interview with Jake Tapper, labeled Khan as a "rogue prosecutor" creating "false symmetries" and accused him of falsely claiming Israel denies aid to Gaza, arguing that the country has allowed in 20,000 humanitarian aid trucks, a tiny fraction compared to what would've been allowed under regular circumstances.
The Israeli siege of Gaza, following Hamas' October 7 attacks, has continued for seven months and left over 34,000 people dead. As questions about Israel's long-term strategy have surfaced, both internally and externally, Israel reentered areas of northern Gaza that it had previously claimed to be clear of Hamas. Israel's Defense Minister Gallant urged Netanyahu to publicly rule out governing Gaza and present his post-war plans for civilian rule. Netanyahu maintained that resettling Gaza was completely out of the question.
Despite the complex situation, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu remained firm on his commitment to eliminating Hamas before considering demilitarizing the Strip. With an estimated 100 hostages still believed to be held in Gaza and the pressure for a hostage-releasing deal increasing, Netanyahu insisted that military action was crucial for securing hostages' release.
Netanyahu's popularity has dipped in Israel, where he's also facing a corruption trial. Critics argue that Netanyahu prolongs the war to maintain his power, contradicting his claims to Israeli media that he holds frequent press conferences with Israeli journalists.
Israel and the US are not members of the ICC, yet the warrants targeting Hamas and Israeli government officials mark the first time an ally of the United States' leader has been targeted by the international court. The ICC has jurisdiction over Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank as Palestinian leaders agreed to be under its jurisdiction in 2015. In response to the warrants, France and international human rights organizations praised the move, while countries like the US have heavily criticized the decision. Separately, Netanyahu compared himself to President Franklin Roosevelt, drawing a parallel between the ICC's action and Roosevelt's leadership during World War II. Khan also revealed that he has faced international pressures regarding his investigation of Israel.
This is an ongoing story, and updates will follow.
In a landmark decision, the International Criminal Court's (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan announced that he's requested arrest warrants against three Hamas leaders and two Israeli politicians - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant - on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Khan explained that the Israel-Palestine conflict's October 7 attacks, which led to Gaza's invasion, prompted the indictment.
The proposed charges involve extermination, forced starvation, denial of aid, and targeting civilians, among other actions. In response, Netanyahu called Khan a "rogue prosecutor" who fabricates "false charges" to create "false symmetries." Netanyahu also emphasized that Israel has given Gaza humanitarian aid during the conflict. According to Netanyahu, 20,000 trucks carrying food, medical supplies, and other aid have entered Gaza, compared to the significantly higher numbers that would have been allowed under regular conditions.
The ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict has caused over 34,000 casualties since October 2021, with serious concerns raised about Israel's long-term strategy. After Israel entered northern Gaza, previously considered Hamas-free, Israel Defense Minister Gallant urged Netanyahu to clarify post-war civic rule in Gaza, arguing that he opposes Israeli governance in the Palestinian territory. Netanyahu believes "resettling" Gaza is not an option.
During his interview with CNN, Netanyahu maintained that he's committed to neutralizing Hamas, then considering demilitarizing Gaza. Despite more than 100 hostages still thought to be in Gaza, public polls show that freeing those hostages is the priority for Israelis, a consequence of the military action. Netanyahu insisted, however, that military pressure is essential for convincing Hamas to release captives.
With poor public support, allegations of dodging Israeli media, and an on-going corruption trial, Netanyahu rejects allegations of fearing Israeli media while favoring international press.
Marking the first time a close ally of the United States' leader has faced an indictment, the ICC, a non-member to both Israel and the US, took action on behalf of Palestinians. The dispute occurred in areas under Palestinian control, enabling the ICC to claim jurisdiction.
Supporting this move, countries like France and human rights groups praised the ICC's decision, while Israel's allies heavily criticized it. President Joe Biden deemed it "outrageous," with US legislators threatening ICC sanctions. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed an openness to legal action against the court.
As the Biden administration previously noted, some US weapons may have been used by Israeli forces in ways that violate international humanitarian law. However, they stopped short of explicitly stating a violation of the rule. During his interview, Netanyahu likened himself to President Roosevelt, claiming Khan's requests are similar to putting Nazi leader Adolf Hitler beside Roosevelt, a wartime American president responsible for the U.S. military mobilization.
In the past, Khan had reported facing international pressure because of his investigation against Israel.
This is an evolving story, and updates will keep coming.
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Despite international criticism and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Israel has continued to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, with over 20,000 aid trucks entering the region during the conflict. However, the world has taken notice of the situation, with the International Criminal Court (ICC) requesting arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders and two Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on charges related to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Source: edition.cnn.com
