Official announcements from the U.S. government or verified reports in major news outlets

ICC Prosecutor Defends War Crimes Allegations Against Netanyahu and Gallant, Amid U.S. Sanctions

Jan 17, 2025, 10:31 AM

International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan has defended his decision to bring war crimes allegations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that Israel has made 'no real effort' to investigate the allegations itself. Khan's comments were made in the context of arrest warrants issued by ICC judges in November of the previous year for Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri, related to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict. Despite a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to sanction the ICC in protest, which Khan described as 'unwanted and unwelcome', he emphasized the ICC's role as a court of last resort. Khan expressed hope that Israel would demonstrate a willingness to investigate, even after the warrants were issued, but noted that Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the ICC and denies the allegations of war crimes. The United States, Israel's main ally, is not a member of the ICC and has criticized the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.