According to recent reports, Israel and the US are working together to prevent the International Criminal Court (ICC) from issuing an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials. The possibility of an arrest warrant has put significant pressure on Netanyahu, leading him to have ongoing discussions with relevant parties, particularly the administration of US President Joe Biden.
Experts believe that an ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu and other Israeli officials could have a detrimental impact on Israel’s international reputation. Along with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi are also reportedly at risk of being arrested by the ICC.
Despite Israel not being a member of the ICC and not recognizing its jurisdiction, the court has launched an investigation into allegations of war crimes committed by Israel. The investigation covers a range of issues, including Israel’s actions during the 2014 campaign against Hamas, settlement programs in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and the treatment of Palestinian protesters in the Gaza Strip.
In addition to this, South Africa has filed a lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for allegedly committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The ICJ ruled that Israel must fulfill its humanitarian obligations in the Gaza Strip and prevent and punish any acts of inciting genocide. However, the court did not consider South Africa’s claim that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians.
Overall, it seems that both Israel and South Africa are facing legal challenges related to their actions towards Palestinians. While it remains to be seen how these cases will unfold in the coming months or years, one thing is clear: they will continue to put significant pressure on both countries’ reputations and relationships with other nations around the world.