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NBCMay 01
ICC Seeks Arrest Warrants Against Netanyahu, Sinwar
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The Facts
Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, on Monday applied for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh.
Khan said he had "reasonable grounds to believe" that the Israeli and Hamas officials bear criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity over the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and the ensuing Gaza war.
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
Israel has the right to defend itself from terrorist attacks and an obligation to get hostages back from malicious actors. It's beyond outrageous to target the leader of a democratic country in the same breath as the leader of a terrorist group. ICC's action is a deep distortion of justice and a complete moral failure.
Pro-Palestine narrative
For too long, the ICC has shown a clear double standard in neglecting issues affecting Palestine. There's an urgent need for the ICC to treat Israel's actions in Gaza as existential issues of war crimes and genocide. Arrest warrants for top Israeli leadership must now be fully implemented and the collective punishment of the Palestinian people must stop.