The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over suspected war crimes in Gaza. Despite Israel not recognizing the authority of the ICC, more than 120 countries that are part of the treaty establishing the court are legally bound to enforce the arrest warrants. International human rights lawyer Jonathan Kuttab highlighted that there are early signs that many countries, including Israel’s allies, are committed to enforcing the warrants. Netanyahu has denied the charges and called them anti-Semitic.
The list of countries where Netanyahu and Gallant could potentially be detained includes Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, among others.
While it is unlikely that Netanyahu and Gallant will voluntarily turn themselves in, their ability to travel freely has been significantly limited by the issuance of the arrest warrants. The situation underscores the importance of international accountability and adherence to the rule of law, with Kuttab emphasizing the presumption that people will obey the law. The ICC’s decision has sparked global attention and debate around the issue of alleged war crimes in Gaza and the role of the international community in ensuring justice and accountability.
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