Israel has officially appealed the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. These warrants, linked to the war in Gaza, accuse them of war crimes, including attacks targeting civilians and inhumane acts.
A similar warrant also targeted Mohammed Deif, military leader of Hamas. The Israeli army claimed to have killed him, but this information was never confirmed by the Palestinian movement.
In a press release, the Israeli government denounced an “unfounded” decision and contested the jurisdiction of the ICC, which it refuses to recognize. Prime Minister Netanyahu called on his international allies, notably the United States, to step up their opposition to the Court and any collaboration with it.
Pending consideration of its appeal, Israel has requested the immediate suspension of the warrants. The government said that if the appeal was rejected, it would reinforce the perception of systematic bias by the ICC against the Jewish state.
The charges against the two leaders cover actions taken between October 2023 and May 2024, at the height of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Swiss
