ICC Rejects Israel's Attempt to Halt Gaza War Probe

JAKARTA - The appeals judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday rejected one of a series of legal challenges filed by Israel against the court's investigation into Israel's conduct in the Gaza Strip war, Palestine.

In the appeal, the judge refused to overturn a lower court ruling that said the prosecutor's investigation into alleged crimes under its jurisdiction could cover events after the deadly attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023, Al Arabiya reported from Reuters (16/12).

With this decision, the investigation continues and the arrest warrant issued last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remains in effect.

Israel rejects the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes in Gaza, where it launched a military campaign it says was aimed at crushing Hamas after the October 7 attack.

The ICC had initially also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, but later withdrew it after credible reports of his death.

The ruling only focuses on one of several Israeli legal challenges to the ICC's investigations and arrest warrants for its officials.

There is no deadline for the court to decide on various other challenges to its jurisdiction in the case.

The latest conflict in Gaza broke out when the Palestinian militant group led by Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and leaving 251 others hostage, according to Israeli calculations.

Israel responded by carrying out air raids, blockades, and ground operations, before the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which was mediated by Egypt, Qatar, the United States, and Turkey, was agreed upon and came into force on October 10.

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However, the ceasefire did not stop the death toll on the Palestinian side.

Yesterday, medical sources in Gaza confirmed that the number of Palestinian deaths had risen to 70,665, the majority of whom were women and children, quoted from WAFA.

The same source explained that the number of injured victims has increased to 171,145 since the start of the attack, while a number of victims are still trapped under the rubble, inaccessible by ambulances and rescue teams.

Meanwhile, the total number of deaths and injuries since the ceasefire agreement has reached 393 people who have fallen and 1,068 people who have been injured, with 632 bodies found.