Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly asked his justice minister to stage the launch of a criminal investigation into himself and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in a bid to fend off the International Criminal Court‘s (ICC) pending arrest warrants over the country’s military conduct in Gaza.
In a highly unusual move, Justice Minister Yariv Leven requested that government Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara open and then close a probe as a rouse to show the ICC that Israel’s courts are investigating the allegations, according to a report from Hebrew-language broadcaster Channel 12.
Netanyahu and Gallant are both facing the potential of arrest on charges of crimes against humanity, including the collective punishment of civilians in Gaza and wilfully causing suffering of Palestinians.
This week, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan urged the international body to expedite the calls for arrest warrants for the two Israeli leaders as well as Hamas leaders Yayha Sinwar and Mohammed Deif who are also being investigated for war crimes. ….more
