Israel Considers Inquiry Amid ICC War Crimes Inquiry

Israel's Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara has urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to establish an independent commission to investigate the humanitarian situation in Gaza to avert potential arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes. Following ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan's announcement of possible warrants against Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the Prime Minister's Office is considering options, including the formation of an inquiry commission. While Baharav-Miara believes that a state commission could demonstrate Israel's commitment to accountability, Netanyahu has shown reluctance, preferring a lower-level governmental commission, which would have less investigative power. The ICC typically refrains from acting against states with functioning legal systems, yet concerns about Israel's judicial independence complicate the situation. The proposed commission is seen as a necessary step to prevent the ICC from issuing warrants that would hinder the leaders' ability to travel internationally. However, there remains uncertainty about whether this would ultimately satisfy the ICC's requirements, leading to discussions of alternative measures.