On Thursday, April 24, 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) rejected Israel’s request to suspend the execution of the arrest warrants issued against Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the occupying power, and Yoav Gallant, Minister of Defense. The Court confirmed that the arrest warrants remain valid and enforceable under the procedures of the Court and the provisions of the Rome Statute.
The arrest warrants were issued following a request by the ICC Prosecutor, who found reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals may have committed crimes falling within the Court’s jurisdiction—specifically, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 2023.
The Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness) affirms that the ICC's rejection of Israel’s request is a bold step in resisting unprecedented political pressure exerted by powerful states to obstruct accountability.
The decision reflects the Court’s effort to restore a degree of balance and credibility after long-standing accusations of bias against countries of the Global South.
The ICC exercises its jurisdiction over Palestinian territory as Palestine has been a State Party to the Rome Statute since 2015. Israel's non-recognition of the Court's jurisdiction does not negate the Court's authority to prosecute crimes committed on the territory of a State Party (Palestine).
The ICC's refusal to suspend the arrest warrants strengthens the credibility and independence of the international judiciary, sends a strong message, and reaffirms that immunity does not shield individuals from prosecution when credible evidence exists of the commission of grave crimes.
(Witness) emphasizes the following:
▶️ The 124 States Parties to the Rome Statute must fulfill their legal obligation to execute the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant upon their entry into their territories.
▶️ Witness calls for expanding the scope of legal accountability to include other crimes such as genocide, settlement expansion and land appropriation, forced displacement, torture of detainees, and targeting of civilian infrastructure.
▶️ Witness urges the launch of international advocacy campaigns to pressure States Parties to act upon the arrest warrants immediately upon the presence of the accused in their jurisdictions.
Beirut, April 25, 2025
Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness)