ICC Prosecutor Says Israel Is Not Serious In Investigating Allegations Of War Crimes In Gaza

ICC/Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan defended his decision to file charges of war crimes against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Karim Khan said Israel was "not making any real efforts" to investigate the allegations itself.

In an interview with Reuters, Karim Khan remained in his decision regarding an arrest warrant despite a vote last week by the US parliament to impose sanctions on the ICC as a form of protest.

ICC judges issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli defense chief Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri in November 2024 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict.

Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes.

The United States, Israel's main ally, is also not a member of the ICC and Washington criticized arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.

"We are here as a court of last choice and as we are currently discussing, we have not seen any real efforts from the State of Israel to take action in accordance with existing jurisdictions, namely investigations into the same matter. suspects for the same action," Khan told Reuters.

"This can change and I hope it can happen," he said in an interview on Thursday, January 16, a day after Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas reached an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel's investigation could have led to the case being returned to Israeli courts based on complementary principles.

Israel, according to Khan, should be able to demonstrate its willingness to conduct an investigation, even after an arrest warrant is issued.

The ICC, with 125 member states, is a permanent court in the world that hears individuals for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression.

Khan said Israel had excellent legal expertise.

But he said, "The question is whether the judges, prosecutors, and legal instruments have been used to properly investigate the accusations we see in Palestinian occupied territories, in the Palestinian state? and I think the answer is 'no'."