ICC issues arrest warrant for Israeli PM Netanyahu over Gaza war crimes

Judges at the International Criminal Court have issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The move comes after the ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced on May 20, that he was seeking arrest warrants for alleged crimes connected to the Oct.7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas and the Israeli military response in Gaza.

The ICC said Israel's acceptance of the court's jurisdiction was not required.

Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes in Gaza. Israel has said it killed Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, in airstrike but Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied this.

Israel's genocide in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 44,056 Palestinians and injuries to 104,286 others since October 7, 2023. On that same day, attacks led by Hamas claimed the lives of approximately 1,139 people in Israel, with over 200 individuals taken captive.

In Lebanon, Israeli attacks since the start of the Gaza conflict have killed at least 3,558 people and injured 15,123 others.