ICC Rejects Israeli Objections to Investigation Into Gaza War
January 15, 2025
12:18 PM
Reading time: 3 minutes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan has officially responded to Israel’s objections concerning the investigation into the Gaza war. Israel had appealed the ICC’s jurisdiction after arrest warrants were issued for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. These warrants accuse the two Israeli leaders of committing crimes against humanity during the 15-month war in Gaza.
In his response, Khan rejected Israeli claims that the court lacked jurisdiction over Israeli nationals. He emphasized that under the Rome Statute, the ICC has the authority to prosecute crimes occurring within the territory of a member state, regardless of the perpetrators' nationality. Khan asserted that Gaza is part of the state of Palestine, which is a member of the court, thereby justifying the investigation.
The investigation centers around allegations that Netanyahu and Gallant directed attacks against Gaza's civilian population and used starvation as a method of warfare by restricting international aid. The ICC also accuses them of committing crimes against humanity, including murder and persecution, due to their handling of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Israel has strongly denied these charges, arguing that it has sent significant aid to Gaza through border crossings. The Israeli government attributes delays and inefficiencies in aid distribution to operational challenges and Hamas interference. Additionally, Israel maintains that the civilian casualties in Gaza are largely the result of Hamas embedding its fighters in civilian areas.
The ICC’s investigation has sparked controversy, with many of Israel's allies, including the United States, expressing their opposition to the court's actions. Despite this, the ICC insists that its pursuit of arrest warrants is based on credible evidence and aims to prevent ongoing crimes.