Israel is making attempts via diplomatic channels to try and block the International Criminal Court (ICC) from issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and other military officials over war crimes, according to media reports. Israeli officials fear that the Hague-based court might issue the warrants as early as this week.
An Israeli government source told The Times of Israel that the US is also "part of the last-ditch diplomatic effort" to prevent the ICC from moving forward with the arrest warrants.
Here are the latest developments:
An Israeli government source told The Times of Israel that the National Security Council is leading the campaign to stop the ICC from issuing the warrants, along with the involvement of the country's Foreign Ministry.
A source told The Times of Israel that the country's "proposal called for a deal to accept the release of 40 of the roughly 130 hostages believed to be still held in exchange for freeing Palestinian security prisoners jailed in Israel, and a second phase of a truce consisting of a 'period of sustained calm' -- Israel’s compromise response to a Hamas demand for permanent ceasefire".
As Israel's military is facing mounting pressure over its ongoing offensive in Gaza, a US State Department spokesperson said on Monday that Washington found five units of the Jewish nation's forces responsible for gross violations of human rights. This is the first time the US has reached such a conclusion about Israeli forces, Reuters reported.
