The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, sent a response to judges about Israel’s challenge to the court’s investigation into the Gaza war. Israel doesn’t think the ICC has the right to investigate alleged war crimes. This came after the court issued arrest warrants for some Israeli leaders including the Prime Minister plus a Hamas military chief. They are accused of crimes against humanity from the conflict.
The ICC wants to continue its investigation into the 13-month Gaza war saying they have the authority even with Israel’s disagreement. Israel is trying to stop the proceedings. The arguments are happening at the ICC in The Hague. The whole point is to see if those accused should be held responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court has to listen to both sides before deciding what to do next.
The process involves the ICC and Israel talking through legal arguments. The prosecutor is pushing back against Israel’s attempts to deny the court’s right to investigate. This new submission is a key step in the ongoing legal back and forth. The initial arrest warrants accused Israeli leaders of crimes during the Gaza conflict. This response from the prosecutor is a sign that the court is moving forward to see if there’s enough evidence to pursue a case. It’s a major legal fight about who is accountable for what happened during the war.