ICC prosecutor's request for arrest warrants for Israel, Hamas leaders

Following are key details from the statement by Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, on his request for arrest warrants for the leaders of Israel and Hamas:

In a statement, Khan said that based on evidence examined by his office he had sought warrants against Yahya Sinwar, political leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip; Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (also known as Mohammed Deif), commander-in-chief of the military wing of Hamas; and Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas' political bureau, who is based outside Gaza.

The office suspects them of criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Israel and in Gaza from at least Oct. 7, 2023.

The alleged crimes include extermination as a crime against humanity, murder as a crime against humanity, taking hostages, rape and other sexual violence, torture as a crime against humanity, inhumane acts as a crime against humanity, cruel treatment and outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime.

On Israel, Khan issued warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, saying he had reasonable grounds to believe that they bore criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza from at least Oct. 8, 2023.

The alleged crimes include starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, wilful killing or murder as a war crime, directing attacks against a civilian population as a war crime, persecution as a crime against humanity, and other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity.

Source: Reuters