25 April 25
Appeals judges at the International Criminal Court on Thursday ordered a lower panel to
reconsider Israel’s objections to the court’s jurisdiction over arrest warrants issued against
Israeli leaders last year.
The appeals chamber said the court had not properly weighed challenges by Israel to its
jurisdiction and the legality of arrest warrant requests against Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for their conduct of the Gaza war.
The so-called Pre-Trial Chamber had ruled that Israel’s challenges were premature, but the
appeals judges now said that was an “error of law”.
It said Israel’s argument that it was entitled to challenge the jurisdiction was not sufficiently
addressed.
“The Appeals Chamber, therefore, reversed the decision and remanded the matter to the
Pre-Trial Chamber for a new ruling on the substance of Israel’s challenge to the jurisdiction
of the Court,” they said.
The office of the ICC Prosecutor said it was studying the new ruling without offering
further comment.
Israel and Palestinian leaders have dismissed allegations of war crimes, and
representatives for both sides have criticised ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan’s decision to
seek warrants for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Source : News24
