Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  The International Criminal Court (ICC) has officially issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

According to the court’s statement, both individuals are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed between 8 October 2023, and 20 May 2024, during an operation in the Gaza Strip.

The ICC dismissed objections from Tel Aviv regarding the court’s jurisdiction.

The document specifies that the court may base its mandate on the territorial jurisdiction of Palestine without requiring recognition from Israel.

Furthermore, the court emphasized that under Article 19(2) of the Rome Statute, states cannot challenge jurisdiction until arrest warrants have been issued.

Israeli Prime Minister’s Advisor Dmitry Hendelman criticized the ICC’s decision, claiming that it contributes to Israel’s isolation and supports terrorist attacks against the Jewish state. He also accused the court of supporting a regional war linked to Iran.

The request for arrest warrants was filed by ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan in May 2024. In his statement, Khan highlighted that Netanyahu and Gallant bear responsibility for actions related to the military campaign in Gaza, which began in October 2023. Israel rejected these accusations and refused to cooperate with the court.

The situation in Gaza escalated after the 7 October 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and approximately 250 Israelis taken captive.

In response, the Israeli Defense Forces launched Operation "Iron Swords," accompanied by a full blockade of Gaza. According to Palestinian sources, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 44,000 people.

The International Criminal Court is not recognized by several major states, including Russia, the U.S., China, India, Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. These countries claim that the court’s decisions do not have legal authority on their territories.