By accusing the heads of Israel and Hamas of war crimes, the International Criminal Court's top prosecutor placed them among world leaders infamous for heinous acts against humanity. The chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, announced arrest warrants Monday against two Israeli leaders — including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — and three Hamas leaders. The prosecutor focused on actions taken by Hamas on October 7 when militants stormed southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostages, and on Israel's military response in Gaza, which has killed roughly 35,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Netanyahu condemned the decision Monday , calling it " a complete distortion of reality. " "I reject with disgust the Hague prosecutor's comparison between democratic Israel and the mass murderers of Hamas, " Netanyahu said. In a statement, Hamas accused the prosecutor of trying to " equate the victim with the executioner.
" It said it has the right to resist Israeli occupation, including " armed resistance. " The ICC is the permanent court of last resort, established in 2002 to prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression. Several countries don't accept the court's jurisdiction , including Israel, the United States, China and Russia.
The Hamas officials — Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammed Deif — are accused of planning and instigating eight war crimes and crimes against humani.
