THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The presiding choose of an Worldwide Felony Courtroom panel contemplating a request to challenge arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his protection minister and senior Hamas leaders has been changed on medical grounds.
The courtroom revealed a call Friday granting a request by Romanian choose Iulia Motoc to be taken off the case “based mostly on medical grounds and the necessity to safeguard the right administration of justice.”
The ruling didn’t elaborate or disclose additional particulars, saying that “the private medical state of affairs of Decide Motoc is entitled to medical confidentiality.”
Motoc was changed by Beti Hohler, a Slovenian who was elected as a choose on the courtroom final 12 months after earlier serving as a trial lawyer within the courtroom’s prosecution workplace.
The choice is prone to additional delay a call on the request by the courtroom’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan.
In his Could request for warrants, Khan accused Netanyahu, Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders — Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh — of struggle crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity within the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Netanyahu referred to as the prosecutor’s accusations in opposition to him a “shame,” and an assault on the Israeli army and all of Israel.
U.S. President Joe Biden referred to as the request for warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant “outrageous,” including “no matter this prosecutor would possibly suggest, there isn’t any equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas.”
Hamas additionally denounced the ICC prosecutor’s actions, saying the request to arrest its leaders “equates the sufferer with the executioner.”
For the reason that request, Sinwar and Haniyeh have been confirmed killed. Israel has claimed to have killed Deif, however Hamas has mentioned he survived.
Israel isn’t a member of the courtroom, so even when the arrest warrants are issued, Netanyahu and Gallant don’t face any rapid threat of prosecution. However the specter of arrest might make it troublesome for the Israeli leaders to journey overseas.
Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 individuals, largely civilians, and abducting one other 250. Round 100 hostages are nonetheless inside Gaza, a 3rd of whom are believed to be useless.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, in accordance with Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t say what number of have been combatants however says ladies and kids make up greater than half the fatalities. The Israeli army says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, with out offering proof.
The Israeli marketing campaign has since expanded to Lebanon, the place Israel launched a floor invasion Oct. 1, after buying and selling fireplace with the Hezbollah militant group for a lot of the previous 12 months.
Friday’s announcement about Motoc got here as unrelated accusations surfaced that Khan tried for greater than a 12 months to coerce a feminine aide right into a sexual relationship and groped her in opposition to her will. He categorically denied the allegations, saying there was “no reality to ideas of misconduct.” Courtroom officers have mentioned they could have been made as a part of an Israeli intelligence smear marketing campaign.
A courtroom watchdog couldn’t decide wrongdoing, however urged Khan in a memo to reduce contact with the lady to guard the rights of all concerned and safeguard the courtroom’s integrity.