Falcon powers – Israeli officials have pointed to the ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into possible war crimes committed by Israel and Palestinian militants since the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas. The investigation also examines Israel’s construction of settlements in the occupied territories that the Palestinians want for their future state.
Officials in Israel are increasingly concerned about the possibility of the ICC issuing arrest warrants against the country’s leaders, as international pressure mounts over the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, airstrikes that occurred overnight and into Monday have resulted in the deaths of 25 people in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Among the casualties in Rafah are nine women and five children, one of whom was only five days old, according to civil registry records.
Israel plans to invade the city, despite repeated warnings from its closest ally, the United States, and other countries, affirming that the attack would lead to a catastrophe for more than a million Palestinians who have sought refuge in Rafah.
Israeli officials recently referred to the ICC investigation launched three years ago into possible war crimes committed by Israel and Palestinian militants since the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas.
The investigation also examines Israel’s construction of settlements in the occupied territories that the Palestinians want for their future state. The court has not issued any comments on Monday, nor has it indicated that arrest warrants are imminent in the case.
In this context, the American network Bloomberg reported that a group of seven countries led by the United States has submitted a request to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, following progress in the process of issuing arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gantz, and Chief of Staff Halifi. According to the report, the United States and its allies fear that the court may act at a time when Israel and Hamas are approaching a ceasefire agreement, which could jeopardize the agreement.
