On 21 November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip between October 2023 and May 2024.

The charges against Benyamin Netanyahu

The charges brought against the Prime Minister of Israel mainly concern the military actions carried out by his army in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas attacks in October 2023. According to the ICC, these operations led to serious violations of international humanitarian law, including:
- Indiscriminate attacks against civilians: Israeli forces are accused of carrying out bombardments that failed to distinguish between military and civilian targets, causing the deaths of numerous Palestinian civilians.
- Massive destruction of property: Essential infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and homes, was deliberately destroyed, leaving thousands homeless and severely disrupting basic services.
- Use of starvation as a method of war: The imposition of a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip has prevented the entry of essential goods, including food and medicines, endangering the lives of the civilian population.
- Obstructing humanitarian aid: The Israeli authorities have deliberately prevented access to humanitarian aid for needy populations, thereby exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

These serious accusations are supported by reports from international organisations and independent investigations that have documented the devastating consequences of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Potential consequences

Benyamin Netanyahu’s official visit to Washington, despite the ICC arrest warrant, raises a number of questions about the credibility of the US government on the international stage.
Firstly, in terms of respect for international law: the President of the United States is welcoming a leader who is the subject of an arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The United States is showing that it has no regard for the ICC.
The United States has not ratified the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, for fear that its own nationals could be prosecuted for past military actions, notably in Iraq. This position could be interpreted as a double standard, where US allies enjoy impunity, while other nations are held accountable for their actions.
Several of the United States’ allies, particularly in Europe, are parties to the Rome Statute and actively support the work of the ICC. Will these states respond by invoking respect for international law?
The perception that the United States is offering a platform to a leader accused of serious crimes will further damage its image on the world stage.
Although the United States does not recognise the jurisdiction of the ICC, the decision to invite Benyamin Netanyahu on an official visit to Washington, despite the international arrest warrant issued against him, undermines the credibility of the US government’s foreign policy.