Posted by: John Phoenix
The court said there is “reasonable ground” to believe the Israeli leaders committed crimes against humanity in Gaza.By Sharon Zhang , Truthout
November 21, 2024

Truthout is a vital news source and a living history of political struggle. If you think our work is valuable, support us with a donation of any size.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued long-awaited arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The ICC said in a statement that there are “reasonable grounds to believe” that Netanyahu and Gallant have violated international law in using starvation as a method of warfare and committed crimes against humanity of “murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.” The court also accused the two officials of the war crime of intentionally attacking a civilian population.
The issuing of the warrants means that the Israeli officials could be arrested if they stepped foot in countries that are party to the ICC statute and that would comply with the warrant. Practically, this means that Netanyahu and Gallant will avoid certain countries when traveling abroad, which Netanyahu has already been doing in anticipation of the arrest warrant issuance.
The court said it decided to release normally secret information on the warrants because the alleged war crimes are still ongoing. Thus far, Israeli forces have killed at least 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza, though expert analyses have found that the true death toll is likely much higher.
Overnight on Thursday, Israel carried out a series of bombings of Gaza that killed at least 88 Palestinians, “including many children in their sleep,” as Al Jazeera reported. One attack alone in the north Gaza city of Beit Lahia killed 66 people.
Related Story

UN Report: Israel’s Tactics in Gaza Are “Consistent With Genocide”
Israel’s “unprecedented destruction” has deprived Palestinians of all conditions of life, the group found.By Sharon Zhang , Truthout
November 14, 2024
“The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies,” the statement on the warrants read.
The court noted that Israeli officials have conditioned the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza on international pressure or “requests by the United State of America.”
Meanwhile, Netanyahu and Gallants’ role in the limiting of medical supplies, deprivation of conditions of life and deprivation of Palestinians’ fundamental rights have likely constituted crimes of humanity, the court said. The court also found instances in which Israeli officials allegedly intentionally directed attacks on civilians, a war crime.
The Netherlands and France have announced that they would act on the warrants if given the opportunity. Other countries, like Ireland, have praised the issuing of the warrants. The White House has rejected the court’s decision, with officials having previously rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israel’s genocide. However, Dearborn, Michigan, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said the city would arrest the two “if they step within Dearborn city limits.”
The ICC also issued a warrant for the leader of Hamas’s military division, Mohammed Deif, over his role in the October 7, 2023, attack. Israel claimed to have killed Deif in a July air strike, but Hamas hasn’t confirmed or denied his status.
Israeli leaders have rejected the accusations, with Netanyahu’s office calling the warrants “antisemitic,” without evidence. In September, Israel submitted a challenge to the ICC’s jurisdiction over the court’s request for arrest warrants, but the court unanimously rejected the challenge on Thursday.
Hamas officials have said that the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant are an “important step” but must be “backed practically by all countries,” while also calling on the court to expand its scope over the Gaza genocide to include other leaders responsible for Israel’s occupation and assault.
Human rights groups and international legal experts praised the court’s decision, saying that they are especially important as Israeli leaders undertake concerted efforts to obstruct the court’s proceedings.
“Either the ICC will successfully prosecute Netanyahu and Gallant or the U.S. will disembowel the international court to protect itself and fellow accused war criminals,” said human rights attorney Noura Erakat. “Either way it’s a win because the U.S. (and Israel) continues to show their face and further isolate themselves globally.”
However, some commentators noted that the warrants may end up being effectively meaningless if they are not followed up with action to end the genocide.
“Best thing we can all do now is agitate states to issue arrest warrants when Netanyahu and Gallant step on their soil,” Erakat said. “Make it impossible for them to travel, make it impossible for Israeli subordinates who gleefully posted videos of themselves hunting for babies and bombing schools.”
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) once again called for the U.S. to stop sending Israel weapons in a statement in reaction to the warrants.
“The International Criminal Court’s long overdue decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity signals that the days of the Israeli apartheid government operating with impunity are ending,” said Tlaib. “Our government must urgently end our complicity in these violations of human rights and international law.”
Truthout Is Preparing to Meet Trump’s Agenda With Resistance at Every Turn
Dear Truthout Community,
If you feel rage, despondency, confusion and deep fear today, you are not alone. We’re feeling it too. We are heartsick. Facing down Trump’s fascist agenda, we are desperately worried about the most vulnerable people among us, including our loved ones and everyone in the Truthout community, and our minds are racing a million miles a minute to try to map out all that needs to be done.
We must give ourselves space to grieve and feel our fear, feel our rage, and keep in the forefront of our mind the stark truth that millions of real human lives are on the line. And simultaneously, we’ve got to get to work, take stock of our resources, and prepare to throw ourselves full force into the movement.
Journalism is a linchpin of that movement. Even as we are reeling, we’re summoning up all the energy we can to face down what’s coming, because we know that one of the sharpest weapons against fascism is publishing the truth.
There are many terrifying planks to the Trump agenda, and we plan to devote ourselves to reporting thoroughly on each one and, crucially, covering the movements resisting them. We also recognize that Trump is a dire threat to journalism itself, and that we must take this seriously from the outset.
Last week, the four of us sat down to have some hard but necessary conversations about Truthout under a Trump presidency. How would we defend our publication from an avalanche of far right lawsuits that seek to bankrupt us? How would we keep our reporters safe if they need to cover outbreaks of political violence, or if they are targeted by authorities? How will we urgently produce the practical analysis, tools and movement coverage that you need right now — breaking through our normal routines to meet a terrifying moment in ways that best serve you?
It will be a tough, scary four years to produce social justice-driven journalism. We need to deliver news, strategy, liberatory ideas, tools and movement-sparking solutions with a force that we never have had to before. And at the same time, we desperately need to protect our ability to do so.
We know this is such a painful moment and donations may understandably be the last thing on your mind. But we must ask for your support, which is needed in a new and urgent way.
We promise we will kick into an even higher gear to give you truthful news that cuts against the disinformation and vitriol and hate and violence. We promise to publish analyses that will serve the needs of the movements we all rely on to survive the next four years, and even build for the future. We promise to be responsive, to recognize you as members of our community with a vital stake and voice in this work.

Sharon Zhang is a news writer at Truthout covering politics, climate and labor. Before coming to Truthout, Sharon had written stories for Pacific Standard, The New Republic, and more. She has a master’s degree in environmental studies. She can be found on Twitter and Bluesky.
…Reading List
Environment & Health
143 Million Americans Could Be Exposed to Toxic PFAS in Drinking Water
Human Rights
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant for Crimes Against Humanity
Environment & Health
COP29 Ignores Militarism, Putting Meaningful Climate Deal Out of Reach
Politics & Elections
House Passes Chilling “Nonprofit Killer” Bill With 15 Democrats Voting “Yes”
Politics & Elections
We Must Contest the Christian Right’s Agenda in Every Venue of Our Lives
Politics & Elections
Senate Overwhelmingly Rejects Sanders Resolutions to Block Arms Sales to Israel
Related Stories

Aid Truck Looters in Gaza Operate Under Israeli Forces’ Protection, Reports Find
A UN memo last month reportedly found that pillagers “may be benefiting from” Israeli protection.By Sharon Zhang , Truthout
November 19, 2024

Dozens in North Gaza Dying Under Rubble as Israel Blocks Rescue Missions
Israeli forces are storming across north Gaza, killing people in front of their families or as they look for food.By Sharon Zhang , Truthout
November 18, 2024

Israel Targets, Injures One of the Only Journalists Left in North Gaza in Strike
Al Jazeera reporter Hossam Shabat had just arrived at a house that had been bombed when Israel struck it again.By Sharon Zhang , Truthout
November 20, 2024
Latest Stories

UN Palestine Representative Issues Powerful Rebuke of US Ceasefire Veto
“Do they have the right to kill, and the only right we have is to die?” the ambassador pleaded.By Sharon Zhang , Truthout
November 21, 2024

UNICEF: Over 200 Children Killed in Lebanon Amid Israel’s Assault
Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed numerous children every single day in the past week, UNICEF said.By Sharon Zhang , Truthout
November 19, 2024

|
Biden Admin Sanctions Israeli West Bank Settlers — But Not Leaders Arming Them
Democrats previously urged Biden to sanction top Israeli officials for their backing of violence in the West Bank.By Sharon Zhang , Truthout
November 18, 2024

Germany and US Are in a Race to the Bottom on Suppressing Pro-Palestine Speech
Both countries are adding to the transnational toolkit used to crack down on activists speaking out against genocide.By Schuyler Mitchell , Truthout
November 18, 2024

Ben & Jerry’s Sues Parent Company for Silencing Support for Palestine
The lawsuit adds that Unilever rejected Ben & Jerry’s choice to make donations to Jewish Voice for Peace.By Joy Saha , Salon
November 16, 2024

Tlaib: Blinken Must Resign Over Lies About Israel Blocking Humanitarian Aid
“The Biden administration cannot pick and choose when they comply with our own laws,” Tlaib said.By Sharon Zhang , Truthout
November 15, 2024

The World Saw Me Holding My Niece. Here’s How Israel Took Her From Me.
I’m trying to honor Masa and her family by helping people.By Samia Al-Atrash , Truthout
November 9, 2024

UNRWA: 67 Children Killed by Israeli Attacks on Average Each Day in Gaza
Children account for the single largest group of people killed by Israel.By Sharon Zhang , Truthout
November 8, 2024

UN: 7 in 10 Killed in Gaza Are Women or Children, in “Grave Violations” of Law
Babies and toddlers aged 0 to 4 are among the most-represented age groups of those killed by Israel.By Sharon Zhang , Truthout
November 8, 2024

North Gaza Conditions Are “Beyond Imagination,” UN Official Warns
Israeli forces have created conditions unfit for life and are forcing thousands of Palestinians to live through them.By Sharon Zhang , Truthout