Israeli council weighs potential ICC arrest warrant for PM Netanyahu
Israeli officials are bracing for potential international arrest warrants targeting PM Netanyahu and other senior figures following allegations of war crimes in Gaza
Israeli National Security Council held undisclosed talks regarding the potential issuance of the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, according to Israeli media.
Israel’s Channel 13 reported that these discussions occurred “in anticipation of the possibility of international arrest warrants being issued in the coming days against senior officials in Israel.”
“According to the information and indications available to senior officials in Israel, there is a possibility that the International Criminal Court in The Hague will issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and Halevi,” the channel added.
It said that as part of the discussions, several immediate measures were approved for Israel to take in response to this potential move, including “launching a political campaign” at the international level against it.
Israel to seek help from the Western allies
Netanyahu is set to hold discussions later on Wednesday with counterparts from the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Austria as part of efforts to thwart the potential move.
Concurrently, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog, are expected to engage with the U.S. Congress and President Joe Biden’s administration.
The channel cited unnamed senior Israeli officials as saying that if this step were taken, it would bring to mind the measures taken against Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, in light of the war it has been waging against Ukraine since February 2022.
The officials added that the International Criminal Court is expected to focus on “policymakers rather than low-ranking soldiers” in the arrest warrants.
In this context, Israel’s political-security Cabinet is scheduled to hold a meeting Thursday which is expected to address the issue of potential arrest warrants, according to the private broadcaster.
Last Friday, Israel’s private Channel 12 reported the ICC’s consideration of issuing international arrest warrants in the near future against Netanyahu and other senior officials for alleged “war crimes” committed against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
At that time, Netanyahu reportedly held urgent meetings with Strategic Affairs Minister Dermer, Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz to discuss the matter and seek assistance from Western allies.
Source: Newsroom
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