The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on November 21 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the ongoing Gaza conflict. This unprecedented move by the Hague-based court has sent shockwaves through international politics, sparking mixed reactions among Western states and strong condemnation from Israel.

The ICC accuses Netanyahu and Gallant of employing starvation as a method of warfare by intentionally depriving Gaza’s civilian population of essential supplies, including food, water, and medicine. Prosecutors allege there was no military necessity for such actions, arguing they constitute violations of international law. Mohammed Deif, a key Hamas commander, is charged with orchestrating mass murder, torture, and hostage-taking during Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel.

The warrants are part of a broader ICC investigation that encompasses alleged crimes by both Israeli authorities and Hamas. This inquiry gained momentum following Israel’s military response to the October 7 assault, in which approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 were taken hostage. The Gaza health ministry reports that over 44,000 Palestinians have since been killed, with 1.9 million displaced. While Israel claims it targeted Deif in an earlier airstrike, Hamas has not confirmed his death.

The ICC’s decision has deeply divided the international community. Several Western nations, including the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, and Norway, have pledged to fulfill their obligations under the Rome Statute, which requires them to act on ICC arrest warrants. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkampassured his parliament that authorities would comply with the court’s........

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