By Seun Opejobi The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, ICC, Karim Khan, has applied for arrest warrants for Israe...
By Seun Opejobi
The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court,
ICC, Karim Khan, has applied for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister,
Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant.
Khan also sought the arrest and prosecution of Hamas leader
in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, the group’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and the
Hamas military chief, Mohammed Deif.
Speaking yesterday, Khan said his office had applied to
ICC’s pre-trial chamber for arrest warrants for crimes committed during Hamas’
October 7 attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza.
In a statement he issued, Khan said: “These acts demand
accountability. On the basis of evidence collected and examined by my office, I
have reasonable grounds to believe that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister
of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, the Minister of Defence of Israel, bear criminal
responsibility for the following war crimes and crimes against humanity
committed on the territory of the State of Palestine (in the Gaza strip) from
at least 8 October 2023:
“Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is a war
crime contrary to article 8(2)(b)(xxv) of the Statute. Wilfully causing great
suffering, or serious injury to body or health contrary to article
8(2)(a)(iii), or cruel treatment is a war crime contrary to article 8(2)(c)(i).
“Wilful killing contrary to article 8(2)(a)(i), or murder is
a war crime contrary to article 8(2)(c)(i). Intentionally directing attacks
against a civilian population as a war crime contrary to articles 8(2)(b)(i),
or 8(2)(e)(i).”
No comments