The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory.
Several world leaders have faced or currently face arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes under international law. Below are some prominent examples:
1. Vladimir Putin (Russia)
Charge: Alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine during the war.
Warrant Issued: March 17, 2023.
2. Omar al-Bashir (Sudan)
Charges: Genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity during the Darfur conflict.
Warrant Issued: March 4, 2009, and July 12, 2010.
3. Muammar Gaddafi (Libya)
Charge: Crimes against humanity, including murder and persecution during Libya's 2011 uprising.
Warrant Issued: June 27, 2011.
Outcome: Killed later that year; warrant became moot.
4. Laurent Gbagbo (Ivory Coast)
Charge: Crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, and persecution following the disputed 2010 elections.
Warrant Issued: November 2011.
Outcome: Acquitted in 2019.
5. Slobodan Milošević (Yugoslavia)
Charges: Genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity during the Yugoslav Wars.
Warrant Issued: May 22, 1999.
Outcome: Died in custody during his trial.
6. Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya)
Charge: Crimes against humanity during post-election violence in Kenya (2007–08).
Warrant Issued: Summons to appear in 2011.
Outcome: Charges dropped in 2014 due to lack of evidence.
7. Benjamin Netanyahu (Israel)
Netanyahu has not faced an ICC warrant. However, Israeli leaders have been scrutinized for alleged war crimes in Palestinian territories. Calls for ICC action have been made, but no formal charges or warrants have been issued against him specifically.
The decision now turns Netanyahu and others as internationally wanted suspects, likely increasing their isolation and complicating efforts to negotiate a cease-fire to resolve the 13-month conflict. However, its practical impact may be limited, as neither Israel nor its key ally, the United States, are members of the court, and several Hamas officials involved have since been killed during the conflict.
Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request for warrants as disgraceful and antisemitic. US President Joe Biden also blasted the prosecutor and expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas, Associated Press reported.