Israel Appeals ICC Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant Over Gaza War Crimes

Dec 15, 2024, 02:56 PM

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. The warrants, issued in November, were based on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza. The appeal was reported by Israeli Army Radio on Sunday, marking a formal challenge to the ICC's decision. Israel's action comes in response to the ICC's unprecedented move to issue arrest warrants for leaders of a democratic country, with 123 member states. The appeal reflects Israel's ongoing contention with the court's jurisdiction, as it is not a member state of the ICC. This legal battle has significant implications for Netanyahu and Gallant's international travel, potentially restricting their movements to countries not bound by ICC decisions. France has claimed that Netanyahu has immunity from ICC actions, while Italy has stated it is not feasible to arrest Netanyahu as long as he remains head of Israel's government.