Two British newspapers analyzed the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Galant.

On Thursday, the International Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant, and said that there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that they committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.

It also issued an arrest warrant for the commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Mohammed Deif.

Earthquake

Julian Borger, the Guardian's chief international affairs correspondent, considered the arrest warrants an "earthquake" that shook the legal arenas around the world, as it is the first time an international judicial body has charged a "Western ally from a modern democratic state" with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

He stated in his analysis that the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Galant will not have an immediate impact inside Israel, but may mobilize popular support for the prime minister.

However, he believes that the "seriousness of the charges" against Netanyahu and Galant may weigh on them over time, reducing the area in which they can move on the globe, noting that the stigma of being accused of being war criminals is difficult to get rid of.

He claimed that the approval of the ICC judges of the warrants will "forever" change the status of the international judicial body in the world, adding that the United States - which is not a member - rejected the two warrants, and stated that it will coordinate with its partners, including Israel, regarding the "next steps".

Europe

As for Israel's other allies - such as Germany - they will distance themselves from this matter, but it will be a difficult moment for Keir Starmer's government in Britain, which is likely to be subjected to American pressure to dissuade it from supporting the ICC decision. However, the newspaper's correspondent believes that this pressure will seriously damage Britain's credibility in other parts of the world.

The Guardian report suggested that many other countries that have until now viewed the ICC as a tool of the Western world will adopt the decision and the court itself. The court will be widely seen, especially in the global South, as the most effective defender of the UN Charter, according to the reporter.

Brugger completely rules out the possibility that the two warrants will lead to Netanyahu’s downfall or even his weakening, noting that this is of utmost importance; as many observers believe that the war in Gaza will continue as long as he clings to power.

Challenges

The report goes on to state that there is a long list of member states of the International Criminal Court that Netanyahu and Galant will not be able to visit.

The United States, Russia and China are not members, but for the current White House at least, a visit by either man would be extremely embarrassing. As for the incoming US administration led by President-elect Donald Trump, that would be another matter.

For its part, the Times newspaper indicated that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer supported the decision, and pledged to implement it, meaning that Netanyahu faces the risk of arrest if he enters the United Kingdom.

It said this was the first time the ICC had issued such a warrant against the leader of a Western democratic state, meaning that the court's 124 member states would be obliged to arrest Netanyahu if he entered their territory.

But the newspaper reported that the British government's decision was met with criticism from Conservative Party members who opposed the ICC investigations when they were in government and called on the court to drop it.

It quoted Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel as describing the warrant as "disturbing and provocative," calling on the Labour government to condemn and challenge the court's decision.

Source: Times + Guardian+ Al Jazeera