The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has formally responded to Israeli objections regarding the investigation into the 13-month war in Gaza. The objections were raised after arrest warrants were issued last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and Hamas' military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity.
Israel had appealed the court's jurisdiction, arguing that it could handle the allegations against its leaders internally. However, Khan argued that the ICC, established in 2002 as a court of last resort for prosecuting heinous atrocities, has the authority to investigate crimes that occur within the territory of member states, regardless of the perpetrators' nationality.
Despite objections from countries like Israel, the United States, Russia, and China, the ICC has 125 member states, including Palestine, Ukraine, Canada, and all European Union nations. The court's mandate covers war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu denounced the arrest warrants as a 'black day in the history of nations' and vowed to challenge the allegations. While individuals cannot contest arrest warrants directly, states can object to investigations on their behalf.
The judges are now tasked with reviewing the arguments presented by Khan and Israel and are expected to make a decision on the matter in the coming months.
