ICC rejects Israeli bid to end Netanyahu, Gallant arrest warrants
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The International Criminal Court has rejected "Israel's" request to revoke arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant attend a press conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 (AP)
On Wednesday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) dismissed "Israel's" appeal to revoke the arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, while also refusing to halt the ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In its ruling, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC stated that it had rejected "Israel’s" dual request submitted on May 9, 2025, which included an appeal to withdraw, cancel, or invalidate the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, as well as a demand to halt the prosecutor’s ongoing investigation into the situation in Palestine.
The court dismissed "Israel’s" claim that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over alleged crimes in the Palestinian territories, upholding its earlier rulings while also clarifying that the Appeals Chamber’s April 24, 2025, decision should not be interpreted as weakening the court’s authority in this matter.
“Suspension of the investigation is only applicable when a state challenges the admissibility of a case,” under Article 19(7) of the Rome Statute, according to the decision. The court pointed out that "Israel" had failed to raise any objections concerning the admissibility of the case.
The chamber further dismissed "Israel’s" attempt to block Palestine from submitting its perspective, emphasizing that the court had already gathered adequate evidence and saw no need for further input on the matter.
In its February 5, 2021, ruling, the ICC confirmed Palestine's status as a State Party to the Rome Statute and established that the court's jurisdiction includes Gaza, the West Bank, and the eastern part of occupied al-Quds, territories which have been under Israeli occupation since 1967.
On March 3, 2021, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor formally initiated its investigation into the Palestine situation, which led to the Pre-Trial Chamber issuing arrest warrants on November 21, 2024, against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant over accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
