International Criminal Court Prosecutor Khan calls on 124 countries regarding Netanyahu and Gallant

The call came today after the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza as of October 8, 2023.

In his call to the 124 member states, ICC Prosecutor Khan said, "I call on all states that are parties to the court to demonstrate their commitment to the Rome Statute and to respect and comply with this judicial decision."

Khan invited countries that are not members of the International Criminal Court to cooperate in order to protect international law.

Emphasizing that his investigations into the situation in Gaza are ongoing and that his team is examining additional areas of investigation within the court's jurisdiction, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, Khan said, "I am deeply concerned by reports of escalating violence in Gaza and the West Bank, further restrictions on access to humanitarian aid, and the proliferation of allegations of international crimes."

Stressing that the arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu and Gallant are based on evidence submitted by the prosecution, Khan stated that ICC judges found there were reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts, most notably the use of starvation as a method of warfare.

Emphasizing that the law applies to everyone, Khan pointed out that the arrest warrants were issued following an independent investigation based on verifiable and impartial evidence.

Khan said, "I invite all states that are parties to the Rome Statute to fulfill their obligations and to respect and comply with judicial orders. We expect non-party states to demonstrate cooperation and support international law and the ensuring of accountability for those responsible."

Following the announcement of the ICC's decision, European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell also emphasized that the decision is binding and stated that all countries that are members of the court, including all EU member states, must implement the decision.