Khaberni - The Preliminary Chamber I in the International Criminal Court has denied an Israeli request that sought the cancellation of the arrest warrants issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant, in addition to freezing the ongoing investigation into the Gaza war file.
The decision, which was issued on July 16, 2025, came in response to a petition submitted by Israel on May 9 of the same year, in which it asked the court to nullify or suspend the warrants, claiming the court lacks jurisdiction.
The court clarified that Israel's arguments regarding the lack of the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction are "unfounded," affirming that the investigation in "the situation in Palestine" will continue, and that the arrest warrants will remain in effect until a decision is made on the submitted appeals.
Thus, the court has rejected two separate requests: the first to cancel or suspend the arrest warrants, and the second to suspend the entire investigation.
The warrants issued against Netanyahu and Galant charge them with committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war and preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.
This decision represents a diplomatic setback for Israel, which has sought in recent months to garner international support to annul the warrants, considering that the court does not have jurisdiction over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
On the other hand, Palestinian parties and human rights organizations welcomed the decision, considering it an important step towards holding Israeli officials accountable for violations committed in Gaza.
The decision enhances the standing of the International Criminal Court as an independent judicial body and places Netanyahu and Galant under a permanent threat of arrest should they travel to any of the member states of the Rome Statute, which may restrict their diplomatic movements and increase Israel's isolation on the international stage.
