Hamas' Response To The ICC Arrest Order: Must Give Justice To Victims

ICC/Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - Hamas Basem Naim senior officials responded to an arrest warrant against Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri who is also known as Mohammed Def.

The arrest warrant issued on Thursday, November 21 was also addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

"This is an important step towards justice and giving justice to victims, but this is still a limited step if it is not supported by all countries," he said.

We call on the International Criminal Court to expand accountability coverage to all occupational crime leaders, said a separate Hamas statement.

Reported by Reuters, the ICC said Israel's acceptance of court jurisdictions was not required.

The request for an arrest warrant, filed by the ICC Prosecutor's office on May 20 against Netanyahu, Gallant, and three Hamas leaders, was previously reported to be facing systematic obstacles from Israel and its allies.

The ICC acted quickly in cases related to Ukraine, namely issuing arrest warrants for six Russian officials, including Putin, in a matter of months.

In contrast, no arrest warrants have been issued in the Gaza case since the investigation began in 2019, thus showing significant delays and double standards.

The long delay in Palestinian investigations stems from Israeli spy operations targeting the ICC and its officials for nine years, coupled with the resignation of a judge who handled the case.

The matter became complicated after Britain challenged the ICC jurisdiction, following allegations of abuse against Prosecutor Karim Khan.