JERUSALEM, Dec 2 — The ongoing conflict in Gaza has intensified international scrutiny of Israel’s military actions, with the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The warrants, issued in November 2024, highlight the increasingly controversial nature of Israel’s military operations, which have led to widespread Palestinian casualties and destruction.
The ICC’s involvement follows a surprise attack by Hamas militants in October 2023, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and took more than 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza that has since claimed the lives of more than 44,400 Palestinians, displaced nearly the entire population of the enclave, and drawn harsh international condemnation. The warrants accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of orchestrating actions that may constitute war crimes, with both leaders vehemently denying the charges.
Former Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon has further fueled the controversy, accusing Israel of committing war crimes and pursuing ethnic cleansing in Gaza. He claims that hardliners in the Israeli government are pushing for the expulsion of Palestinians from northern Gaza and the re-establishment of Jewish settlements there, 19 years after Israel withdrew. His statements have ignited a backlash from the Netanyahu-led government, which dismissed the accusations as baseless.
The ICC’s involvement, alongside the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, has brought renewed attention to the legality of Israeli military operations and the potential for long-term repercussions. With global powers increasingly condemning Israeli settlements in territories seized during the 1967 war, the situation remains at a critical crossroads, as the international community demands accountability and adherence to international law.