ICC arrest warrants spark global controversy over Israel, Hamas conflict

The request by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for arrest warrants for the leaders of Israel and Hamas in connection with the war in the Middle East has stirred strong emotions. Tel Aviv, the Palestinian side, and representatives of the Western world have spoken out on the matter.

On Monday, May 20, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan in The Hague filed for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three leaders of the Palestinian organization Hamas about the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The evidence we have gathered confirms that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant are responsible for crimes committed in Palestine. These crimes include depriving civilians of access to food and deliberately shelling places where they were staying, said ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan.

These crimes also include cutting off access to water, cutting off power supplies, and hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

This decision by the International Criminal Court in The Hague has caused significant turmoil. Leaders from around the world have spoken out.

According to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, "any attempt to compare these atrocious terrorists (Hamas - editor's note) with the democratically elected government of Israel - striving to fulfill its duty of defending and protecting its citizens in full respect of the principles of international law - is outrageous and cannot be accepted by anyone".

The ICC Prosecutor's request for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is scandalous, announced Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Monday, May 20. "I will convene a special group to fight this decision," he added.

The Palestinian side also expressed its stance, stating that it "strongly condemns the ICC Prosecutor's attempts to equate the victim with the perpetrator".

Hamas demands the annulment of all arrest warrants issued against the leaders of the Palestinian resistance movement for violating conventions and UN resolutions, the organization said in its official statement.

According to Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri, the decision by the International Criminal Court "only encourages Israel to continue its war of extermination in Gaza".

A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also addressed the issue. The spokesperson emphasized that "the prosecutor's actions are not helpful in the context of stopping the fighting, releasing hostages, or delivering humanitarian aid."

In contrast, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said, "we fully respect the ICC's independence, but the fact that the leaders of the terrorist organization Hamas, whose declared aim is the annihilation of the state of Israel, are mentioned in the same breath as the democratically elected representatives of that very state, is not understandable".

There is no reason for the court to investigate Israel because it is not a party to the Rome Statute, and Israel has a fully functioning judiciary, stated Republican Senator Jim Risch of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Joe Biden also criticized the ICC's decision. "The ICC Prosecutor's request for arrest warrants for Israeli leaders is outrageous," said the American president.