The arrest warrants were classified “secret”, in order to protect witnesses and ensure investigations can be conducted, the court said.
But “the chamber considers that it is in the interest of the victims and their families that they are informed of the existence of the warrants,” she explained.
Benjamin Netanyahu briefly interrupted by relatives of victims during speech for October 7
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan in May asked the court to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant (who was fired in early November by the Israeli prime minister) for war crimes and crimes against humanity suspected in Gaza.
Mr. Khan also requested arrest warrants for senior Hamas leaders, including Mohammed Deif, on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
According to Israel, Deif was killed in a July 13 strike in southern Gaza, although Hamas denies his death.
The Hamas government’s Health Ministry for Gaza announced Thursday a new death toll of 44,056 in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war with Israel more than a year ago.
At least 71 people have been killed in the past 24 hours, he said in a statement, adding that 104,268 people had been injured in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war, sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023.
Netherlands to execute arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu
The Netherlands will execute the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as well as the leader of the armed wing of Hamas Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al Masri (Deif), who Israel believes is dead, Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp told the Second Chamber on Thursday.
“The Netherlands is fully cooperating with the International Criminal Court,” the minister said. Dutch authorities can only arrest suspects if they are on Dutch soil and there is an arrest warrant for them.
