Amnesty International: Request For ICC Arrest Order Important Step Towards Justice

Israeli military land operations in Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - Human rights group Amnesty International on Tuesday said the request for an arrest warrant against Hamas and Israeli leaders, submitted by the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) was an "important step towards justice".

"The ICC prosecutor's move sends an important message to all parties involved in the conflict in Gaza and its surroundings, they will be responsible for the destruction they have imposed on the people of Gaza and Israel," Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnès Callamard told Reuters on May 21.

Earlier, Chief Prosecutor ICC Karim Khan on Monday issued arrest warrants issued against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (Mohammed Def), as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Those who are "suspected of being responsible for crimes based on international law" must face "court and accountability, no matter how strong or how high their rank is," Callamard said.

"No one is above international law: there is no leader of an armed group, no government official is either elected or not, no military official," he explained.

"All countries must respect court legitimacy, they must refrain from any attempt to intimidate or pressure the court so that judges can carry out their duties in full and impartial independence," he said.

Israel criticized the move by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, with PM Netanyahu calling it a reversal of reality, while Defense Minister Gallant said it was a shame.

Khan said on Monday the charges imposed on the two Israeli leaders included crimes "corresponding to culling, causing hunger as a method of war including the rejection of humanitarian aid supplies, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict," as quoted by The Times of Israel.

Meanwhile, the charges charged against three high-ranking Hamas militant groups were the destruction, murder, hostage-taking, rape, and sexual assault in detention.

"No one is above the law," Khan told CNN Christiane Amanpour.

Prosecutor Khan said if Israel disagrees with the ICC, "they are free, even though they object to jurisdictions, to pose challenges before court judges and that's what I suggest they do."

Israel is not a member of the court and does not recognize its jurisdiction. However, the Palestinian territories were accepted with member state status in 2015.