ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Israeli defense minister
Karim Khan concludes first visit to Israel and State of Palestine
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has said he will seek an arrest warrant for Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, according to The Times of Israel.
Karim Khan announced the decision at a press conference in The Hague on Wednesday, after a five-day visit to Israel and the State of Palestine. Khan said he had concluded that there is a "reasonable basis to believe" that Gantz committed war crimes during the 2014 Gaza conflict.
The ICC is an independent international court that investigates and prosecutes individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The court has jurisdiction over crimes that are committed by nationals of member states, or that occur on the territory of member states.
Israel is not a member of the ICC, but the court has jurisdiction over crimes that are committed on Palestinian territory.
The announcement of the arrest warrant is a significant development in the ICC's investigation into the 2014 Gaza conflict. The conflict, which lasted for 51 days, resulted in the deaths of more than 2,200 Palestinians and 73 Israelis.
The ICC's investigation into the conflict began in 2015. In 2020, the court authorized Khan to open a full investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both Israeli and Palestinian forces during the conflict.
The decision to seek an arrest warrant for Gantz is a sign that the ICC is prepared to take action against senior Israeli officials for alleged war crimes.
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