(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reported to be “extremely concerned” and fearful of the possibility that the International Criminal Court (ICC) may issue arrest warrants for him and two other Israeli leaders.
Israeli media speculate that the ICC might issue arrest warrants this week for Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces General Herzi Halevi.
According to the Israeli newspaper “Maariv,” fearing arrest and trial at the ICC, Netanyahu has reached out to several world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, seeking “help” to prevent the issuance of the arrest warrants.
Meanwhile, another Israeli outlet, Times of Israel, reports that the United States is actively using diplomatic channels in a last-minute effort to prevent the ICC from issuing the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and the two leaders.
An Israeli news portal, “Walla,” mentions that Netanyahu is under “extraordinary stress” due to the potential for him, the Defense Minister, and the Chief of Staff of the IDF to be targeted by ICC arrest warrants.
“Netanyahu is leading a relentless effort, mostly on the phone with the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, to prevent the issuance of the arrest warrants,” reports Ben Caspit of Walla, as quoted by Times of Israel.
If the arrest warrants are indeed issued against Netanyahu and the two other Israeli leaders, it could further damage Israel’s reputation and potentially see its leaders imprisoned for a long period if found guilty.
Meanwhile, analyst Amos Harel from Haaretz writes that the Israeli government is making all efforts anticipating that ICC prosecutor Karim Khan will issue the arrest warrants to Netanyahu, Gallant, and Halevi this week.
Like Israel, the United States is among the nations that have not signed the Rome Statute concerning the ICC and is working to prevent the court from issuing arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.
In January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take measures to prevent mass killings in its conflict in the Gaza Strip and urged an immediate ceasefire.
The ICJ ruling, in a case filed by South Africa, stated that Israel must ensure its military personnel do not commit mass killings and take steps to improve the humanitarian situation for Palestinian civilians in the territory.
Israel was brought before the International Court of Justice after South Africa accused the Zionist regime of orchestrating mass killings in Gaza.
In an 84-page submission to the ICJ, South Africa urged the judges to immediately suspend Israel’s military operations in Gaza, alleging Israel’s involvement in mass crimes against Palestinian civilians.
South Africa initiated proceedings at the ICJ last December, requesting the ‘world court’ to investigate the alleged mass crimes committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza, including an immediate determination that Israel violated the 1948 Genocide Convention. — DSA