udges at the International Criminal Court have issued an arrest warrant for Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of committing with others the war crimes of mass starvation, murder and persecution. Warrants have also been issued for Israel’s former defence minister Yoav Gallant, as well as the Hamas military commander, Mohammed Deif.
The judges said there were “reasonable grounds” the three men bore "criminal responsibility" for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war between Israel and Hamas.
Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the ICC’s decision as “antisemitic”, while Hamas said the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant had set an important historical precedent.
The Court says it has reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant "each bear criminal responsibility for the following crimes as co-perpetrators for committing the acts jointly with others: the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts".
Israel says the Hamas commander Mohammed Deif was killed in Gaza in July. However the ICC said prosecutors were not in a position to determine whether he was killed or remained alive. The Court said it had reasonable grounds to believe he was "responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder; extermination; torture; and rape and other form of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and rape and other form of sexual violence".
The issuing of arrest warrants means the men face arrest if they travel to any country that is a member of the International Criminal Court.
Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Lucy WilliamsonSubscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog
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