The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Monday that it is seeking arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister, defence minister and three senior Hamas leaders.
The court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan said he was filing applications for arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant on grounds of persecution, death by starvation, denial of humanitarian supplies, and the deliberate targeting of civilians.
There has been speculation for weeks that the ICC would issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli figures, and marks the first time the court has targeted a close ally of the United States.
Khan has also filed applications for Yayha Sinwar, head of Hamas in Gaza, Mohammed Dief, commander of Al-Qassam Brigades and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas political leader based in Doha based on actions from 7 October.
The charges against the Hamas leaders include extermination, murder, taking of hostages, rape and sexual assault in detention.
A panel of ICC judges will consider Khan’s application.
