Photo: Nicole Mastrogiannis
Arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, whom Israel claimed was killed in August, were issued by the International Criminal Court on Thursday (November 21), CBS News reports.
Judges for the ICC found there were "reasonable grounds to believe that" Netanyahu and Gallant "intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024," at which point an ICC prosecutor filed the arrest warrants, the court said in a statement obtained by CBS News on Thursday.
"This finding is based on the role of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant in impeding humanitarian aid in violation of international humanitarian law and their failure to facilitate relief by all means at its disposal," the ICC said.
"Their conduct led to the disruption of the ability of humanitarian organizations to provide food and other essential goods to the population in need in Gaza," the statement continued. "The aforementioned restrictions together with cutting off electricity and reducing fuel supply also had a severe impact on the availability of water in Gaza and the ability of hospitals to provide medical care."
Deif, the commander of Hamas' military wing whom Israel claimed was killed during an airstrike this past summer, was accused of being "responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder; extermination; torture; and rape and other forms of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and rape and other form of sexual violence," in relation to Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on an Israel at a music festival, which led to the country's retaliation. An estimated 1,200 Israelis, most of whom were civilians, were killed and another 250 individuals were taken hostage during the attack by Hamas.
Hamas never confirmed or denied Deif's death.