The International Criminal Court (ICC) had sought warrants for three Hamas leaders, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. However, at least two of the leaders have already been killed in recent clashes in the Gaza Strip.
The ICC had been investigating the actions of Hamas in relation to the ongoing conflict in the region, including allegations of using civilians as human shields, launching rocket attacks at civilian populations, and carrying out extrajudicial executions.
The two Hamas leaders who have been killed were identified as Ahmed al-Jabari and Salah Shehadeh. Al-Jabari was the head of the military wing of Hamas and was responsible for numerous attacks against Israeli civilians. Shehadeh, on the other hand, was considered a key figure in the organization’s operations.
The news of their deaths comes as a blow to the ICC’s efforts to hold Hamas leaders accountable for their actions. The court had previously faced criticism for focusing primarily on cases involving African countries, while ignoring conflicts in the Middle East.
Despite the deaths of the two leaders, the ICC’s investigation into Hamas’ actions is ongoing. The court has not yet commented on how the deaths will impact their case, or if they will continue to seek warrants for the remaining Hamas leader.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing for decades, with intermittent periods of intense violence. The ICC’s involvement in the conflict has raised hopes for justice and accountability for the countless civilians who have been affected by the violence.
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