Senior Israeli officials are preparing for the possibility of the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants against them, as soon as they launch a criminal investigation into suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Palestinian territories.
The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said on Tuesday that the criminal court is likely to soon decide whether to open an investigation into suspicions that Israel committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, announced in early May that the court had the authority to investigate possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories, but a final decision by the court's first chamber is still required before the investigation is launched.
The Palestinians welcomed Bensouda's announcement, expressing the hope that the court will launch its official investigation soon, but Israel and the United States have criticized the move.
Yediot Aharonot indicated that the court's first chamber is likely to issue its decision this week, and said, "The practical assumption at the political level is that Israel will receive a short notice two days before the decision is issued."
However, it was believed that the court would in fact choose to postpone its decision until after the US presidential elections in November, to see whether President Donald Trump was elected to a second term or not?
Earlier, Trump signed a presidential decree in June that allowed economic sanctions to be imposed on international crime, in an attempt to interrogate and prosecute US forces on suspicion of crimes in Afghanistan, or the allies of the United States, including Israel.
Fearing Tel Aviv,
Yediot Aharonot indicated that Tel Aviv feared the court, upon launching the investigation, would issue secret arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
This could include senior officials, including the prime minister and ministers, the chief of staff of the army, commanders and senior military officers, as well as heads of councils in settlements.
She added that it is possible that Tel Aviv would refuse to cooperate with the court, which may lead it later to issue secret arrest warrants against the Israelis, and Israel will not necessarily be able to know this, and this will require the latter to exercise caution, especially on the trips of dignitaries and senior officers abroad for fear of arrest. .
The newspaper, in turn, indicated that Israel would work to delegitimize the court, and would ask the United States to impose more sanctions against it.
The newspaper pointed out that the court decisions are effective in all member states, including the European Union countries, some African countries, Australia, Japan and other Asian countries.
It is reported that the Palestinian Authority had previously asked the court to investigate Israeli military and political leaders responsible for settlement decisions, launching military attacks on Gaza and arresting Palestinians in Israeli prisons.