ICC Prosecutor Defends Arrest Warrants for Israeli Leaders

International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan has revealed he faced significant pressure from global leaders against issuing arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Khan stated that he received warnings that pursuing these warrants could be an 'atomic bomb' and emphasized the ICC's need to apply the law equally without favoritism towards powerful nations. He formally requested the warrants in May, citing evidence of war crimes such as starvation of civilians and murder by both Israeli and Hamas leaders. Khan highlighted the necessity for the ICC to uphold justice impartially, indicating that failure to do so could undermine the court's credibility. In a recent interview, he defended the warrants against accusations of being politically motivated, asserting that his actions were driven by legal obligations. The requests for the warrants are still awaiting approval from ICC judges, and both Israel and Hamas have rejected the allegations.