Who will arrest Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu?
The ICC’s case is strengthening against Israel and Hamas leaders
Are international arrest warrants for Israel’s Netanyahu and Hamas’ Sinwar and others one step closer?
The criminal case against the leaders of Israel and Hamas got a boost last week from a new UN report exposing damning evidence of war crimes committed by each side’s forces.
Its findings support the controversial accusations made by the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor, and likely boost the possibility of arrest warrants being issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas’ commander in Gaza Yahya Sinwar, and others on both sides.
The case against Israel
The report by the UN's Commission of Inquiry, which covers the period up to the end of 2023, specifically accused Israel of crimes against humanity for torture, "extermination" and "gender persecution targeting Palestinian men and boys" says the BBC.
The case against Hamas
Hamas was also accused of a host of abuses during its 7 October attacks, which saw 1,200 people killed and 251 more kidnapped. The report said there was evidence of widespread sexual violence committed against Israeli women and a pattern of mass killings in public shelters.
What’s the International Criminal Court?
The foundation of the International Criminal Court is the Rome Statute. Signed on July 17, 1998, the Rome Statute defines the international crimes over which the court has jurisdiction, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, if committed on the territory of a State party or by one of its nationals.
When an arrest warrant is issued by the ICC, every country that has signed and ratified the Rome Statute is affected. 124 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute, and each one would be obligated to arrest Netyanhu and the others.
Canada’ reaction
Canada signed the Rome Statute on December 18, 1998, and ratified it two years later. Therefore, an arrest warrant would be in effect here.
When queried by reporters, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly wouldn't say whether Canada would arrest Israeli officials if they did end up subject of an international arrest warrant and visited Canada, saying that this is a theoretical situation. Joly added that senior Hamas leaders are already barred from Canada due to terrorism and sanctions laws.
Netanyahu on par with Putin
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could join the wanted list alongside Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin.
In March 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for President Putin and Russian Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova for allegedly deporting Ukrainian children and transferring them to Russia, which is seen as a war crime in the eyes of the court. Now, the two cannot travel to ICC member states without risking arrest.
Here is a map of countries that would be obliged to arrest Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu and others should warrants be issued by the ICC.
PeaceQuest readers want Netanyahu charged, less certain about Sinwar
Peace Quest readers who took our recent survey want criminal charges laid against Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant (91%). This is much higher than the general public, where roughly half (54%) think the Israeli leaders absolutely or probably should be charged.
For Hamas commander Sinwar and his commanders who orchestrated the October 7 attacks on Israel, the views of PeaceQuest readers are closer to most Canadians. Three in four readers (73%) say Sinwar and the rest should be absolutely or probably be charged, roughly the same number of Canadians generally (78%).
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Thank you for everything you do for peace.
Steve
Canada is now very corrupt. The little good we do is just to maintain the brand.