ICC arrest warrant applications for Israeli, Hamas leaders shows no one above law - Amnesty International SA

CAPE TOWN - Amnesty International South Africa said the move by International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan to apply for arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas leaders over war in the region sends a strong message that no one is above the law.

Khan announced on Monday that he had applied for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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He's also applied for arrest warrants for three Hamas senior leaders believed to be criminally responsible for the killings of Israeli civilians.

More than 1,200 Israelis were killed by Hamas in an attack on Israel in October, and in retaliation, Israel has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

Amnesty International South Africa's Shenilla Mohamed said those suspected of responsibility for crimes under international law must be prosecuted.

"The application for arrest warrants by the ICC's prosecutor in the situation in the State of Palestine is also a long-awaited opportunity to end the decades-long cycle of impunity in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, and to restore the credibility of the international justice system as a whole."

Mohamed said all states must respect the legitimacy of the court and refrain from any attempts at intimidation.

"If the court's judges approve any arrest warrants, all ICC state parties must ensure the enforcement of these warrants."