Former Israeli Defense Minister Gallant to visit US despite ICC arrest warrant
Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during a ceremony marking the Hebrew calendar anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on October 27, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant intends to travel to Washington for talks with U.S. security officials, despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him for alleged war crimes in Gaza, Israeli media reported on Monday.
ICC warrant and Israel’s response
- The ICC issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Gallant and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict.
- Under ICC rules, trials cannot proceed unless defendants are physically present in court.
- The court relies on member states for enforcement as it lacks a police force to implement its orders.
- The White House has rejected the ICC warrants for both Netanyahu and Gallant.
Impact of Gaza conflict
- The Gaza conflict, now in its second year, has resulted in over 44,200 Palestinians killed by Israel, with most casualties being women and children, according to reports.
- The conflict has displaced almost the entire population of Gaza.
- A continued blockade has caused severe shortages of essential resources, including food, clean water, and medicine, worsening humanitarian conditions.
Palestinians walk on a dirt road lined with rubble from destroyed buildings in the Shujaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City on October 7, 2024, on the first anniversary of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP) / NO USE AFTER JANUARY 31, 2025 23:00:00 GMT – AFP PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2024
People rush to landing humanitarian aid packages dropped over the northern Gaza Strip on April 23, 2024 amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by AFP) / NO USE AFTER JANUARY 31, 2025 23:00:00 GMT – AFP PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2024
Gallant’s planned US visit
- Israeli Army Radio reported Gallant’s planned visit to the U.S., though no specific date has been disclosed.
- The visit is expected to include discussions with U.S. security officials on bilateral and regional matters.
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