International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Israeli defence minister
Judges find ‘reasonable ground’ PM, former defense minister criminally responsible for starvation, murder, ‘inhumane acts’. The decision marked the first time the ICC has ever issued arrest warrants against leaders of a democratic country.
- Times of Israel
Move comes after UN Special Committee finds Israeli warfare in Gaza 'consistent with characteristics of genocide.'
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in that country's deadly 13-month campaign in Gaza.
The court also said it has reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant, who was fired as defence minister earlier this month, are criminally responsible in the "war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts," in Israel's bombardment of Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.
Both bear "criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime… against the civilian population," it said.
The attack by Hamas on southern Israel last year killed an estimated 1,200 people, and took another 253 people hostage. More than 100 of them have since been released.
In the ensuing 13 months, Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 44,000 people and displaced most of its more than 2.3 million population.
- CBC news
Destination Toronto previously estimated Taylor Swift's six-show stint would generate $282 million for Toronto's local economy, with $152 million coming in the form of direct spending. - CTV News