The preliminary trial commission of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has unanimously issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, better known as Mohamed Deif, for crimes against humanity and alleged war crimes committed in the territory of the State of Israel and the “State of Palestine” from at least October 7, 2023.
The Court's Preliminary Commission, convened for the situation in the “State of Palestine”, unanimously rendered two decisions rejecting an appeal by the State of Israel “filed under Articles 18 and 19 of the Convention of Rome. The ICC also issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Israeli politicians reacted strongly on Wednesday to the decision of the International Criminal Court. Benny Gantz, leader of the National Camp, called the decision “a moral blindness and a historical shame that will never be forgotten.” Avigdor Lieberman, president of Israel Beitenou, sees this as “further proof of the double morality and hypocrisy of the international community.” Education Minister Yoav Kisch denounced “an unprecedented moral precedent,” saying that “while Israel protects its citizens against cruel terrorism, The Hague chooses to distort justice and reward terrorists.” According to Palestinian media, the secretary general of the National Initiative, Mustafa Barghouti, welcomed the decision of the International Criminal Court and called on the ICJ to speed up its judgment on the accusation of “genocide” against Israel.
