Netanyahu Diverts Plane Route to Avoid ICC Arrest

(FeaturedHeadlines.com) – In May 2024, an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor issued an application for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders. Consequently, Netanyahu has been forced to alter travel plans in order to avoid arrest in countries that cooperate with the ICC.

Netanyahu considered stopping in the Czech Republic and Hungary en route to the United States, where he is scheduled to deliver a speech to Congress. However, the Israeli leader decided not to visit the European countries due to fears that the ICC was preparing an arrest warrant against him.

The plane Netanyahu uses for international travel must stop on its way to North America to refuel if it is full of passengers. Netanyahu instead opted to take a direct flight to the US with a smaller entourage.

The Czech Republic and Hungary would be obliged to arrest Netanyahu if the ICC issued the requested arrest warrant against him. Neither the US nor Israel are parties to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan filed applications for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with Israel’s fight against Hamas, including intentional attacks on civilians. Khan also accused Hamas leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including hostage taking and sexual violence.

Israeli officials have dismissed accusations of war crimes and placed responsibility for the conflict solely on Hamas, which conducted a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Nevertheless, the Israeli military’s actions have come under scrutiny due to frequent reports of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.

On July 13, an Israeli airstrike killed approximately 90 Palestinians in a humanitarian zone, which Israel claims was targeting Hamas’ military chief. Hamas denies that the strike killed the leader, Mohammed Deif. More than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip in the wake of the October 7 attack, according to medical authorities in the Palestinian enclave.

It appears as though Netanyahu will make an effort to avoid arrest by the ICC for his alleged culpability for such deaths. Those efforts will severely limit his international travel, although not to the US.

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