DIRCO welcomes ICC move to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, Deif
The department said these actions marked a significant step towards justice for crimes committed against humanity and war crimes.
- Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO)
- Israel Hamas conflict
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
FILE: Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (L) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend a press conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv on 28 October 2023 amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas. Picture: AFP
CAPE TOWN - The Department of International Relations has welcomed a move by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader, Mohammed Deif.
The department said these actions marked a significant step towards justice for crimes committed against humanity and war crimes.
Israel's challenge to the jurisdiction of the court was on Thursday rejected and it's now proceeded to issue the warrants requested by the ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, in May.
Before issuing the warrants of arrest, the ICC pre-trial chamber ruled on two challenges by Israel made to the court in September.
In the first, it dismissed Israel's challenge of jurisdiction over Palestine and Israeli nationals, saying the application had been premature and the court's jurisdiction could only be challenged once an arrest warrant had been issued.
The court further rejected Israel's complaint that it had not been notified of an investigation against it.
The court said there was no need for another notification since Israel was aware of an investigation dating back to 2021.
International relations spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, welcomed the court’s ruling.
"The South African government regards the arrest warrants issued by the ICC for the prime minister of Israel and the former defence minister of Israel as significant developments. We call on the global community to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability for human rights violations."
The ICC prosecutor had originally requested arrest warrants for other Hamas leaders too, who had since been killed.
The ICC's pre-trial chamber said there were reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare.
Although based on the evidence before it, it could not determine that all elements of the crime against humanity of extermination were met, the chamber did find there were reasonable grounds to believe the crime against humanity of murder was committed in relation to these victims.
Israel is due to deliver its memorial to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in June next year in response to South Africa's 4,000-page document of evidence alleging genocide filed with the court in October.