Analysts and experts did not rule out that the United States is behind the International Criminal Court's intention to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while stressing that any judicial action against Israel is extremely slow.

In this context, the senior researcher at Al Jazeera Center for Studies, Dr. Liqaa Makki, believes that the United States was the one who moved this file to pressure Netanyahu to stop his stubbornness and accept an exchange deal, in addition to the understanding regarding the invasion of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Makki explained - during his speech on the program “Gaza... What Next?” - that Washington holds the reins of the International Criminal Court, and has a decision not to continue the war on Gaza, adding that it wants to subjugate Netanyahu, “so there is a kind of internal settling of scores in Israel, and an attempt to benefit from what is happening.” 

He pointed out that there is an American decision to hold Netanyahu accountable for his challenge to President Joe Biden, anticipating that this step may end Netanyahu's political career, noting that the latter no longer has the ability to resist American pressure and will choose Washington to protect him.

According to Makki, waving the ICC card is the last resort, and it has now been created in order to force Netanyahu to reach a solution in Gaza, citing talk of negotiations to conclude an exchange deal, and an Egyptian initiative, in what appears to be an Israeli intention to stop the war.

He described what is happening as a pinch against Netanyahu and his far-right partners, especially Ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, noting that the Prime Minister faces a dilemma: “Either he is tried abroad, or his government collapses and he is tried internally.”

A scenario that the court may resort to

In turn, the researcher and lecturer in international law, Dr. Durgham Saif, stated that the International Criminal Court’s move against Israel’s leaders is possible because it is based on the so-called preliminary chamber within the court that is responsible for issuing arrest warrants, as happened with the deposed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and the current Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The researcher did not hide that the court was exposed to political pressure, but he added that its previous issuance of arrest warrants for heads of state strengthens its position, especially since it is considered modern and is trying to gain international legitimacy and prosecute the individuals involved.

He expected that the International Criminal Courts would resort to issuing arrest warrants against Israeli leaders and others from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) so that they are not accused of bias towards any party, stressing that the reputation of the court is at stake.

The researcher pointed out that Israel faces, for the first time in its history, the possibility of issuing arrest warrants for its leadership, adding that the International Criminal Court must take advantage of the decision of the International Court of Justice regarding the genocide case in Gaza to issue arrest warrants.

While he acknowledged that international judicial forums are moving slowly regarding the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the international law specialist expected that stopping the war would speed up the issuance of arrest warrants because political pressure on the court would decrease.

Two paths adopted by Netanyahu

For his part, the academic and expert on Israeli affairs, Dr. Muhammad Halsa, says that there is absolute bias from the head of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, who came “rushing to meet the relatives of the Israelis who were killed in the October 7 attack, in exchange for a brief meeting with the Palestinians.”

The Israeli affairs expert pointed out that the International Criminal Court needed only two weeks to convict Putin, but it did not move against Netanyahu even though the war entered its seventh month.

According to the spokesman, there is a political investment inside Israel to subjugate Netanyahu - and perhaps external - behind which the United States stands, which he said has continued to swallow Israel’s insults in order to maintain the deep strategic relationship with Washington.

The expert on Israeli affairs seemed to disagree with Dr. Makki’s opinion, pointing out that Netanyahu is evasive and his behavior does not say that he is finished, but rather relies on two paths, one of which is strategic, one of which he goes to achieve with all his might, which is the continuation of the war, while the other is a tactical show to absorb the internal and external reaction.

Source: Al Jazeera