Three Palestinian rights groups – human rights organisations Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights – have brought a lawsuit to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to push for the investigation of Israel for “apartheid”, “genocide”, and other war crimes. The lawsuit also asks for arrest warrants to be issued against Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The document presented to the ICC detailed Israeli airstrikes on densely populated areas within the Gaza Strip that have resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, many of them children. The lawsuit also seeks expansion of the war crimes investigation to include the suffocating siege imposed on Gaza, forced displacement of its population, and other human rights abuses.
Furthermore, it referenced the complaints filed by other groups, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), about alleged war crimes perpetrated by Israel. This came after ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan highlighted the possibility of prosecuting those who impede humanitarian aid from reaching civilians, as they have rights under international humanitarian law, and these rights give rise to criminal responsibility when they are curtailed under the Rome Statute.
Israel, however, does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction and does not formally engage with the court, but the ICC believes it has the legal authority to investigate alleged crimes on the territory of its members or by their nationals when domestic authorities are unable or unwilling to do so.