ALBAWABA - The International Criminal Court (ICC) changed its judge panel examining a request to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday. Slovenian judge Beti Hohler was appointed immediately after Romanian judge Iulia Motoc sought a replacement owing to health reasons. Japanese judge Tomoko Akane, ICC president, announced.
Because Judge Hohler needs time to evaluate the case documents, any Gaza warrant ruling is anticipated to be delayed. ICC arrest warrant rulings have taken around three months in the past, although deadlines are not set. This case has been delayed by Israel's legal challenges to the ICC's jurisdiction.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan sought an accelerated arrest warrant ruling about two months ago, targeting Israeli and Hamas leaders. Khan said that international authorities cautioned him against warranting Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Khan said, “I have received advice and warnings from many leaders and others,” and welcomed the UK's decision to drop its warrant request opposition.
On October 19, Khan told BBC that the ICC's purpose is impartial in response to criticism. He stressed that warrants should apply equally to Israeli and Hamas officials and that the court must act impartially. Khan said nations sponsored by NATO or other strong governments should be treated equally under the law.
Khan sought Netanyahu and Gallant warrants for Gaza crimes against humanity in May. Netanyahu called the allegations a “disgrace,” calling them an assault on Israel's military and nation, and promised to continue fighting Hamas. Hamas criticized Khan, saying the warrant request unfairly connects “victim with aggressor.”
Israel's non-membership in the ICC implies Netanyahu and Gallant are unlikely to be prosecuted soon if arrest warrants are issued. Israeli politicians may be limited in their worldwide travel by arrest warrants. The ICC's Khan request decision's timetable is unknown.
