### ICC Issues Historic Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant

In a landmark decision, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. This action is unprecedented, marking the first time in the ICC’s 22-year history that arrest warrants have been issued for senior officials from a Western-allied nation.

The announcement was made by the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC, composed of three judges, and comes six months after Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan requested the warrants. The decision is seen as particularly timely given the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 44,000 Palestinians since October of last year.

The delay in issuing the warrants had sparked speculation about the potential influence of Israeli-American pressures on the court. Both the United States and Israel have questioned the ICC’s jurisdiction and threatened its judges with retaliatory measures, including sanctions. Despite these challenges, the ICC judges proceeded with their decision on November 21.

The three judges presiding over Pre-Trial Chamber I—Nicolas Guillou from France, Reine Alapini-Gansou from Benin, and Beti Hohler from Slovenia—were tasked with examining the evidence related to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Palestine. Guillou, the chamber president, began his term on March 11, 2024, after a distinguished career that included roles at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

Reine Alapini-Gansou, the chamber’s second vice president, has previously served on the chamber that issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Her work with the ICC began on March 11, 2018, following significant roles in the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.

Beti Hohler, who joined Pre-Trial Chamber I in October, has a robust legal background, having served as a trial lawyer in the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICC. Prior to her tenure starting on March 11, 2024, Hohler was involved in legal advisement for the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo and has provided detailed briefs on the legal implications of Palestine’s membership in the ICC.

This move by the ICC underscores its commitment to holding individuals accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity, irrespective of their political affiliations or international alliances.