Karim Khan urges ICC judges not to delay arrest warrant for Netanyahu

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agecnies
24 Aug 2024 05:11

After months of studying its jurisdiction over Israelis, the ICC is yet to take a final decision on arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.

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Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, arrives at the National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela, on April 22, 2024. (AP)

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, stressed that the court has jurisdiction to investigate Israelis, urging judges to decide on arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant, which he had requested months ago.

Khan has also requested arrest warrants for three Palestinian Resistance leaders, including Hamas' Political Bureau chief Yahya Sinwar, martyr Ismail Haniyeh, and al-Qassam Brigades Cheif of Staff Mohammad Deif.

The ICC continues to study its legal ability to issue arrest warrants for the two top Israeli officials.

Khan called on judges weighing the matter to not further delay.

"Any unjustified delay in these proceedings detrimentally affects the rights of victims," he said in court filings made available on Friday.

Khan is asking judges to dismiss legal challenges filed by several dozen governments and other organizations, arguing that the ICC has no jurisdiction over Israelis who committed war crimes in Palestinian territories.

"It is settled law that the court has jurisdiction in this situation," the filing said, dismissing legal arguments based on provisions in the Oslo Accords and assertions by "Israel" that it is carrying out its own investigations into war crimes.

Khan's decision was subjected to backlash and pressure from "Israel" and its allies, despite the request including three top Palestinian Resistance officials. The Resistance leaders who Khan requested arrest warrants for are the previous Hamas leader, martyr Ismail Haniyeh, current Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, and al-Qassam Brigades Chief-of-Staff Mohammad Deif.

The court is still studying whether it has the jurisdiction to issue these arrest warrants, an unusual situation that lacks a legal precedent.

Israeli officials familiar with the matter told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that diplomatic pressure is being exerted on the ICC to delay the issuance of the warrants against the Israeli prime minister and his security minister. Yet, the same officials are unsure if these measures will affect the court's final decision.