Yuval Sasson: ICC Arrest Warrants Have Hampered Israel's Ability To Act In War

By JPost
Posted on 06/16/24 | News Source: JPost

The International Criminal Court arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have already hampered the war against Hamas, attorney Yuval Sasson told Tamar Uriel-Beeri and Sarah Ben-Nun on The Jerusalem Post Podcast.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent legal entity, unlike the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which is part of the UN. 

In addition, unlike the ICJ, which deals with disputes between states, the ICC deals with individual people. 

"[The ICC] deals with not state's responsibility, but with individual's responsibility," Sasson explained. "Therefore, the request by their prosecutor [for arrest warrants] is not against the State of Israel, but rather against individuals in this situation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant." 

One immediate impact of the ICC arrest warrants will be limiting the ability of Netanyahu and Gallant to travel abroad.

"There are over 120 member states" of the ICC, Sasson noted, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. "Each and every state [that is part of the ICC] will have the obligation to arrest [Netanyahu and Gallant]. Already, Germany, the UK, France.... have said that if there will be arrest warrants, they will act accordingly." 

However, Sasson further said that the ICC arrest warrants will also impact how Netanyahu and Gallant act in the future.