The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague announced on Wednesday that it is officially opening an investigation into Israeli “war crimes” in the “Palestinian territories.”
Defense Minister Benny Gantz told Reuters on Tuesday that hundreds of Israelis could face war crimes probes by the ICC, including himself, and he is taking measures to protect them.
The ICC ruled last month that it has jurisdiction to open criminal probes against Israel and the Palestinians for alleged war crimes in the Shomron, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Israel, which is not a member of the court, rejects the ICC’s jurisdiction on the issue.
“I was never afraid to go across enemy lines,” Gantz said. “I will continue to stand wherever I have to. The ICC ruling is a negative development. We have our own teams working in different (places) to try (and) influence (the ICC).”
Gantz said that according to a rough estimate, several hundred Israelis could be subject to arrest if a probe proceeds to criminal investigations. Israel will assist any implicated Israelis by providing them with legal assistance and issuing warnings about travel when necessary.
Gantz was the IDF Chief of Staff during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, one of the conflicts that could be included in a potential ICC probe.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
4 Responses
If the ICC wanted to be taken seriously they should have investigated Tony Blair and George Bush
They instigated a war with Iraq under false pretences
The right thing for the wrong reasons or the wrong thing for the right reasons is still a war crime
NO?
Israel should consider taking the ICC to task for defamation
Sue for hundreds of millions and bankrupt the institution
Is it corrupt or just a old fashioned bully ??
Tell them to go investigate China in Tibet and Uighur-land, Turkey in northern Cyprus (and also in Turkey), and many other places (just look at the news).
Either that or mind their own business!
Really?
How are you going to “protect” anybody?
Send lawyers?!?!
How about, if an Israeli gets taken, you send out special forces and take them back!!!
Euros have had 2000 years of experience in murdering Jews. Armed force is the only thing they’ll understand and fear!
“Loshenhora”:
They instigated a war with Iraq under false pretences
THAT is Loshenhora. It’s a vicious lie. How dare you?
The right thing for the wrong reasons or the wrong thing for the right reasons is still a war crime
NO?
No. Absolutely not. In any case, there was no crime. Waging war, for ANY reason, is not a war crime.
Israel should consider taking the ICC to task for defamation
Sue for hundreds of millions and bankrupt the institution
Sue where? In what court? No court has jurisdiction, just as the ICC has no jurisdiction over Israel. I suppose you could sue in an Israeli court, but even if you win how are you going to enforce the judgment? The ICC will just ignore the award and not pay.