Israel is deeply concerned that the International Criminal Court (ICC) may issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and senior military officials as early as this week, according to an Israeli official who spoke to NBC News. The warrants, which could be seen as a "humbling moral rebuke" by much of the world, are related to charges stemming from Israel's military offensive in Gaza, which Palestinian officials say has claimed more than 34,000 lives since its launch in response to the Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7.
The Israeli government is working through diplomatic channels to prevent the issuance of the warrants, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz warning Israeli embassies to step up security in anticipation of a potential "wave of severe antisemitism." The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, has jurisdiction over war crimes and other related charges, and Palestinian territories were admitted with member status in 2015. However, Israel and the United States do not recognize the court's jurisdiction.
In a statement to NBC News, the ICC confirmed that it has an ongoing independent investigation into the situation in the State of Palestine but declined to provide further comment at this stage. The court launched its probe three years ago, examining possible war crimes committed by both Israel and Palestinian militants dating back to the 2014 Israel-Hamas war. While the ICC has given no public indication that arrest warrants are imminent, it remains unclear whether Hamas leaders may also face similar action.
The potential arrest warrants come as pressure mounts on Israel to halt its military offensive in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu recently spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden and is awaiting a response from Hamas on a new cease-fire proposal. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu stated that Israel "will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense," adding that the threat to "seize the soldiers and officials of the Middle East's only democracy and the world's only Jewish state is outrageous."
ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan visited the region in December, emphasizing that the investigation was moving forward "at pace, with rigor, with determination and with an insistence that we act not on emotion but on solid evidence." While any warrants issued would not necessarily result in Netanyahu's imprisonment, they would put Israeli officials at risk of arrest in other countries, particularly in much of Europe. The warrants would also serve as a high-profile statement on Israel's actions in Gaza and could be an embarrassing development for Netanyahu, placing him in a similar position to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has also faced action from the ICC.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry informed its missions late Sunday of "rumors" that warrants might be issued against senior Israeli officials, with Foreign Minister Katz warning that such a move would "provide a morale boost" to Hamas and other militant groups. The ICC's investigation and potential arrest warrants have reportedly factored into Israeli decision-making in recent weeks, as the government seeks to balance its military response with the risk of international condemnation and legal repercussions.
