The decision by Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, to publicly apply for arrest warrants this week against the leaders of Hamas and Israel will be one of the most important and controversial of his career.
Khan accused three Hamas leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the October 7 attack on Israel and the hostage taking. He also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip, including the starvation of civilians. Now a three-judge panel will consider whether the warrants should be issued.
Some countries welcomed the news as a sign that all individuals, regardless of state or status, are equal before the law, while others – including the United States, Israel’s main ally – denounced the allegations and accused Khan of false equivalence in pursuit of arrest warrants. for Hamas and Israeli leaders at the same time.
