Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested arrest warrants against leaders of Hamas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel about the October 7, 2023 attacks and the war in Palestine.
What is the International Criminal Court?
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent international court headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. Established by the Rome Statute in 1998 (entered into force on July 1, 2002), it investigates, prosecutes, and tries individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. With 124 countries as States Parties to the Rome Statute, India, US, China are notably not a member. The ICC comprises 18 judges serving non-renewable 9-year terms and operates alongside, rather than replacing, national criminal justice systems, complementing their efforts. Palestine became the 123rd member of the Rome Treaty on April 1, 2015. Israel is not a Party to the Rome Statute.
Are ICC decisions binding? What happens next?
The ICC’s decisions are binding. However, it relies on the cooperation of States for support, particularly for making arrests and transferring the arrested individuals to the ICC detention centre, for freezing assets, and enforcing sentences.
Previously, ICC issued an arrest warrant for war crimes for President Vladimir Putin ( first time that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant against one of the five permanent members of the United Nation Security Council)
