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Can Netanyahu be arrested after the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him?


Recently, Hebrew media published a report about the possibility of the International Criminal Court in The Hague issuing an arrest warrant

Thu 02 May 2024 | 04:52 PM
Can Netanyahu be arrested after the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him?
Can Netanyahu be arrested after the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him?
Amir hagag

Recently, Hebrew media published a report about the possibility of the International Criminal Court in The Hague issuing an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to the sadistic war that has been continuing in the Gaza Strip for more than half a year.

Which raised many questions about the seriousness of these reports and whether an international arrest campaign could be carried out against Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders? Or is this a leak aimed at absorbing international popular anger due to Israel’s continued violations against the Palestinian people, and merely fabricated, worthless threats such as the United States’ threat to impose sanctions on the Israeli army, but in reality its threats were not implemented on the ground, but rather were quickly aborted after Israeli criticism of these threats. The move continued to support the Hebrew state with weapons and equipment, keeping the balance of military power in favor of Tel Aviv

Commenting on these Hebrew reports, Dr. Ayman Al-Raqab, professor of political science at Al-Quds University and member of the Revolutionary Council of the Fatah movement, said in exclusive statements to"SEE": “For several days, we have been reading this news. The International Criminal Court may issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant, and the Israeli Chief of Staff. But these leaks are a form of pressure, and the biggest example is when it was leaked that the American government will punish the “Netzah Yehuda” unit by preventing them from training with the American army. Several sanctions will also be imposed on them later. America said that this was frozen, and therefore the matter is only as a way to absorb the anger of the people, especially from the students in The American interior.

He added: “The leaks come from the United States, and there is a movement in Israel to prevent this from happening.. Last November, 5 countries, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Djibouti, and the Comoros, submitted a memorandum to the International Criminal Court and Prosecutor General Karim Khan, asking him to issue a warrant to arrest Netanyahu and his government, but nothing happened.”

He continued, saying: “While in 2023, when the European Union countries submitted a warrant to arrest Russian leaders, led by President Vladimir Putin, the decision was issued two weeks later. Therefore, I believe that all of this is merely media use... and there are no steps from the International Criminal Court and it was not able to issue it.” Any decision against the occupation."

Netanyahu, known as “Bibi” inside Israel, expressed his fear of the possibility of an arrest warrant being issued against him by the International Criminal Court due to the brutal military operation in the Gaza Strip.

According to the Hebrew newspaper "Maariv", Netanyahu made a series of contacts to prevent the issuance of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, and he also exerted pressure on US President Joe Biden indirectly.

According to the Hebrew newspaper, the arrest warrant will not only include Netanyahu, but also Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevy.

In the same context, an Israeli diplomatic source told the Hebrew newspaper Jerusalem Post that the International Criminal Court cannot move against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Israeli army officers without public or tactical support from the United States.

Netanyahu stressed that “Israel will continue to wage its just war against genocidal terrorists to achieve victory, and we will never stop defending ourselves.”

Netanyahu explained: “Although the International Criminal Court will not affect Israel’s actions, it will set a dangerous precedent that threatens soldiers and officials in all democracies that fight brutal terrorism and wanton aggression.”