ACTIVISTS and experts welcomed the arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant issued by the International Criminal Court today.

Leading Hamas official Mohammed Deif also had a warrant issued against him.

The warrants accused each of them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the 13-month war in Gaza and the October 2023 attack on Israel respectively.

The three-judge panel was unanimous in its decision to issue warrants for Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant, saying that “there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”

Mr Netanyahu condemned the warrant for his arrest, saying Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions.”

In a statement released by his office, he added: “There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza.”

The court’s action turns Mr Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects.

The panel also unanimously agreed to issue an arrest warrant for  Mr Deif, one of the chief commanders of Hamas, over the October 2023 attack on southern Israel that triggered the country’s killing spree in Gaza. 

It said there was reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Deif was “responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder; extermination; torture; and rape and other form of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and rape and other forms of sexual violence.”

Palestinian politician and activist Hanan Ashrawi described the warrants against the Israeli leaders as “a significant and historical development.”

She said: “The 120 countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute must ensure that justice is served.”

United Nations special rapporteur Francesca Albanese said: “As the international community braces for potential repercussions, we must work together to keep the flame of accountability burning bright.”

Before the warrants were issued, Palestinian-Israeli MP Ayman Odeh was expelled from the Israeli parliament on Wednesday for branding Mr Netanyahu a “serial killer of peace.”

He had told the prime minister that “there are 35,055 orphaned babies in Gaza. Their blood will haunt you forever.”

However, none of the suspects is likely to face judges in The Hague any time soon. The court has no police to enforce warrants so must rely on co-operation by its member states.