Chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Kahn told CNN the International Criminal Court has requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Arrest warrants have also been requested for Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Hamas political bureau head Ismail Haniyeh, and the leader of the terror group's military wing Mohammad Deif.
CNN says this is the first time an arrest warrant might be issued for the leader of a state that is a close ally of the US. Previously, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of abduction of Ukrainian children.
The request has been submitted for consideration by ICC judges, who will make the final decision. The charges against Hamas leaders include extermination, murder, hostage-taking, rape, and sexual assault in detention.
Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war, including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies, and deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.
