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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the ICC’s ruling “anti-Semitic” in his 1894 trial of a Jewish soldier who was wrongly convicted of treason before being acquitted in France. was
Israel’s prime minister’s office released a statement after the ICC arrest warrant, saying Benjamin Netanyahu ‘will not bow to pressure’, and the fight against Hamas and the ‘Iranian axis of terrorism’. I will continue to pursue Israel’s goals. (Photo: Reuters)
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has indicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister and Hamas military commander Yves Gallant and Hamas leader Mohammed Def for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. An arrest warrant has been issued. war
Netanyahu condemned the ICC decision as “anti-Semitic”. In his statement against the ICC warrant, Netanyahu called for a ‘Dreyfus trial’, saying, “The International Criminal Court’s anti-Semitic verdict is comparable to a modern-day Dreyfus trial – and so be it.” will go.”
What was the Dreyfus trial?
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a scandal erupted in the French military involving a Jewish artillery captain, Alfred Dreyfus (1859–1935), who was falsely convicted of passing on military secrets. was
In 1894, a French spy at the German embassy in Paris discovered a torn letter in a wastebasket with handwriting similar to Dreyfus’s. Afterwards, Dreyfus was court-martialed, found guilty of treason and sentenced to life behind bars on Devil’s Island, French Guiana.
At a public ceremony in Paris after his execution, Dreyfus had his insignia torn from his uniform and his sword broken and presented to a crowd that chanted, “Death to Judas, Death of the Jew”.
In 1896, when the new head of the French army, Georges Picquart, uncovered evidence against Dreyfus, and that the real traitor was Major Ferdinand Valson Esterhazy, he told his superiors, who prevented him from continuing the investigation. Discouraged, and moved it. North Africa and later imprisoned.
Word spread against Esterhazy and he was court-martialled, but he was soon found not guilty. He later fled the country. Renowned French author Emile Zola published an open essay titled ‘J’Accuse…!’ In which he defended Dreyfus and accused the military of a cover-up. But Zola was found guilty of blasphemy, but managed to escape to England and later returned.
What is Israel’s opinion on the ICC’s decision?
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement on Thursday protesting the ICC’s arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. It said, “There is no greater war than the one that Israel has been waging in Gaza since October 7, 2023, when the Hamas terrorist organization launched a murderous attack and committed the largest massacre against Jews since the Holocaust.” .
“The decision to issue an arrest warrant against the prime minister was made by a corrupt chief prosecutor who is trying to protect himself from sexual harassment allegations and biased judges who are motivated by anti-Semitism against Israel…any anti-Israel The decision will not stop the state from defending its citizens.”
It added that Netanyahu “will not bow to pressure” and will continue to pursue Israel’s goals in the fight against Hamas and the “Iranian axis of terrorism”.
What does the world think about ICC warrants?
The United States has rejected the ICC decision against Netanyahu. “The ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement. “Let me be clear again: whatever the ICC means, there is no equality between Israel and Hamas. It will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.
Argentine President Javier Meli posted on social media platform X that the country disagreed with the ICC’s decision, which “infringes Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself against the continued attacks of terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.” Ignores”.
However, several European countries have said that they respect the court’s decisions. “This is not a political decision,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said during a visit to Jordan. Court should be respected and implemented.
Hamas’ rival Palestinian Authority said the ICC’s decision “represents hope and confidence in international law and its institutions.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu is now officially a wanted man, Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard said.
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tanak said on X that the ICC decision was “a belated but positive decision to stop the bloodshed and stop the genocide in Palestine.”
Italian Defense Minister Guido Croceto said his country would be obliged to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they visited, although he added that he believed the ICC would consider Netanyahu to be at the level of Hamas. It was “wrong” to put on.
Spain said it would follow the ruling, with official sources telling AFP that the country “respects the decision and will fulfill its commitments and obligations in compliance with the Rome Statute and international law.”
“Sweden and the EU support the court’s important work and protect its independence and integrity,” said Foreign Minister Maria Malmar Steinergaard.
What are the implications of the ICC decision?
The ICC relies on the 124 member states of the Rome Statute to execute arrest warrants. Member States are obliged to arrest persons wanted by the ICC who enter their territory. This means that the accused have to consider whether they are willing to take the risk of the journey.
Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not travel to South Africa amid speculation he would be detained under an ICC warrant against him over the Ukraine war.
The impact of the ICC’s warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant will depend in part on whether the ICC’s 124 member states, which do not include Israel or its key ally the United States, decide to enforce them. do or not
ICC member states include Jordan and Tunisia – the only Arab member states other than Palestine -, Germany, another staunch supporter of Israel, all European Union countries, Japan, all Latin American countries, except Cuba and Haiti, and all 33 African countries are included.
The ICC has the authority to prosecute charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes on the territory of states party to its founding Rome Statute.
The ICC ruled in 2021 that it has jurisdiction over the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza because the UN Secretary-General recognized the Palestinians as members of the ICC. Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the ICC.
On what basis are warrants being issued?
The warrants relate to the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas and the Israeli military offensive in Gaza.
The ICC’s three-judge panel said it found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant “committed the war crimes of starvation as a method of war and murder, torture and other unwarranted crimes.” accept criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity committed by human beings.” In addition, the panel said there were reasonable grounds to believe that they bear criminal responsibility “for the war crime of deliberately directing an attack against civilian superiors. The civilian population.”
ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan also sought warrants for two other senior Hamas figures, Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, but they have since been killed.
Israel claims it killed Def, against whom the ICC has issued a warrant. But the court’s pre-trial chamber said it would “continue to gather information” to confirm his death.
