The International Criminal Court has its own investigators and decides whether to prosecute individuals for specific offences. It is worth looking round the ICC website (HERE) to assess the criticism that it is ‘a white man’s court’. The ICC has had an investigation into events in Palestine ongoing since 2015 and it sets out the timeline HERE.
On 20 March 2024 Law For Palestine filed a lengthy submission alleging genocide on the part of members of the Israeli war cabinet. A summary of the document is HERE. On 20 May 2024 the Chief Prosecutor announced his intention HERE to seek arrest warrants against Netanyahu and (now ex-) Defence Minister Gallant as well against certain Hamas leaders. The British and German governments did their best to stop the warrants being issued against Netanyahu and Gallant. Britain after the change of government in July 2024 stopped trying to stop the warrants but continues to show no enthusiasm for the process. Judges at the court finally issued warrants on 21 November 2024.
The Israeli government has filed objections about ‘jurisdiction’ which the court will have to consider (see HERE for a procedural decision which documents the to’ing and fro’ing). In the meantime the Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has been sanctioned by the United States as he has refused to drop this case. To date the ICC has refused to withdraw the arrest warrants.
Separately, the Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation in October 2024 filed with the ICC a complaint against 1,000 named Israeli military personnel. Further details HERE.
There is also a criminal complaint filed in the Netherlands, to the effect that Israeli attempts to undermine the ICC constitute an offence under Dutch law (the ICC is based in the Dutch capital the Hague). The complaint, filed on behalf of a number of Palestinians, refers to THIS LETTER from US senators.