ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Sinwar
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The International Criminal Court's (ICC) prosecutor is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's leader in Gaza, for potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The Details: The ICC prosecutor also wants to issue arrest warrants for Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ Al Qassem Brigades leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri — known as Mohammed Deif — and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The alleged crimes committed by Hamas include “extermination, murder, taking of hostages, rape, and sexual assault in detention.” Purported Israeli crimes included systematically depriving civilians of “objects indispensable to human survival,” including food, water, medicine, and energy. Leaders from the Israeli government, including the foreign minister and president, have rebuked the ICC prosecutor's intentions.
For Context: Following Hamas’ October 7 attack, in which it killed roughly 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages, Israel launched a military response that has reportedly killed tens of thousands in Gaza. Both Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs have said they were victims of ethnic cleansing — claims that have taken center stage at the United Nations’ International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ settles legal disputes between countries, and the ICC prosecutes individuals.
How the Media Covered It: Coverage often echoed partisan divisions on the war in Gaza; while Fox News (Right bias) put “war crimes” in quotes, framing the charges as dubious, CNN (Lean Left bias) differed from other outlets by listing Sinwar before Netanyahu in its headline, which could frame the charges as balanced between the sides, rather than as a move against Israel. This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology. Update 5/24/24 3:18pm ET: A previous version incorrectly said the ICC itself was seeking an arrest warrant; the ICC's prosecutor is seeking the arrest warrants, and ICC judges are as of now considering the request. We regret the error.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Sinwar, Citing Gaza War Crimes by Hamas and Israel![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/netanyahu-sinwar.jpg?itok=Zsov0bk7)
The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, stated on Monday that he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes committed since the Gaza war began on October 7.
He added that he is also seeking warrants against Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Deif.
There are "reasonable grounds to believe" that both Sinwar and Netanyahu bear criminal responsibility for "extermination as crime against humanity," the ICC prosecutor said in...
From the Center
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israel's Netanyahu and Hamas leaders![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-center.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/Screenshot%202024-05-20%20124328.png?itok=c39SP_nv)
The International Criminal Court's prosecutor said on Monday he had requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defence chief and three Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said in a statement issued after over seven months of war in Gaza that he had reasonable grounds to believe that the five men "bear criminal responsibility" for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He said he had applied for an arrest warrant for Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as well as for Netanyahu. They have overseen Israel's offensive...
From the Right
Arrest warrants sought for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas leader for war crimes: International Criminal Court![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-right.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/shutterstock_editorial_Memorial_Day_Event_in_Jerusale_14478451g.jpg?itok=d4zEI2zJ)
The International Criminal Court announced Monday it is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on war crime charges in a move widely ripped as a “historic disgrace.”
The charges are tied to the deadly Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, said in a statement Monday.
Warrants are also being sought for Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Hamas terror leader Yahya Sinwar and two other top Hamas officials, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh.
The charges against the Hamas...
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