Warrants are not being issued yet. This all must be approved and then the arrest warrants will be issued for Israeli and Hamas leaders. The ICC leveled charges against both sides in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. This is a huge step toward ending the brutal violence and atrocities that Israel is inflicting on innocent Palestinians.
Please read the Statement of ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC: Applications for arrest warrants in the situation in the State of Palestine
The charges coming from the ICC, though, are uneven. Prosecutor Khan did not address all of the war crimes that Israel is committing, and that is concerning. These warrants should fully encompass all of the crimes against humanity that Israel has and is perpetrating in Gaza. This was probably meant to be more palatable for Israel to process, and Israel’s allies like the US, but if justice is to be served for Palestinians and human rights, Israeli leaders should be charged with much more.
Honestly, this was a huge surprise because it was looking like the ICC would never step up to Israel and hold them accountable. With the speed the ICC charged Russian leaders, it was not looking good for a while, and the issue with decelerated speed is that Palestinians lost their lives in the course of the court dragging their feet. Thousands have died as the world has waited for these warrants, and the worst part is this is not a done deal yet, so more Palestinians will continue to be subjected to Israel’s genocide and war crimes.
Israel refuses to respect the International Criminal Court and their proposed charges against Netanyahu and Gallant. Israel has never respected international humanitarian law and has never been held to account, so their indignation for breaking any law is a pattern that runs deep within the foundations of Israel.
The US government also is attacking the proposed warrants from the ICC stating that the ICC does not have jurisdiction and that the Israel is not committing genocide. Biden is calling the warrants for Israel “outrageous”. Some in congress are beginning to worry that they could be held accountable for supplying arms to Israel. Good, they should be worried. The huge issue is that these US elected officials will retaliate against the ICC out of fear and anger, because, just like Israel, the US government is indignant over any war crimes and flatly refuses any responsibility for their actions. Israel learned this from the US who shields Israel from accountability and this what they are going to do now. No, the US government is not going to take action to help Americans, but the US government will do everything in its power to protect Israel from paying for their crimes.
Accusing the ICC of overstepping their authority and claiming that Israel’s actions are not breaking international law, are all flagrant attempts to deflect and deny. Because the US worked to help charge Russia with war crimes in Ukraine, and now that it does not suit the US, they have flipped 180 degrees in the opposite direction with the ICC. The US government cannot pick and choose who is and is not breaking international law and committing war crimes, even though the White House spokesperson stated that they could, they cannot. Giving up that power is so difficult for the US government that wants to dictate world order. This is why the ICC is so critical to have in place so that an impartial party can determine war crimes and prosecute them over an individual and biased country that wields a tremendous amount of power and influence over other countries.
Will the ICC actually issue warrants?
Will the US retaliate and to what degree will they?
If the ICC issues warrants, will that mean that arms suppliers to Israel will face charges?
Remain hopeful!
Without the protests, these warrants would have never happened. World leaders wanted everyone to give up and move on from supporting Palestine, but pro-Palestine supporters have never backed down. It is because of this dedication to human rights and humanity that we are seeing progress. Everyone must keep the pressure on so that these warrants are issued and a ceasefire can be achieved as a result.
From the river to the sea, may Palestine be free. May the whole world be free.
Protest
BE UNGOVERNABLE
Disrupt everything
Vote 3rd party
Donate
Boycott
Demand sanctions and embargoes for Israel, US, UK, Germany, France, Australia, RSF, UAE, Russia, SAF, M23, and Rwanda.
Please extend your energy to other countries and people facing atrocities and genocide in Sudan, DRC, Haiti, West Papua, the Rohingyas, Armenians, and the Uyghurs.
Articles for reference. Please read and share.
Al Jazeera: World reacts to ICC prosecutor seeking Israel, Hamas arrest warrants
The Guardian: Biden attacks request by ICC prosecutor for Netanyahu arrest warrant