ICC rejects Israeli attempt to block probe

Published: 8:02 PM, Dec 16, 2025

Members of the Palestinian civil defence search for the bodies of the Salem family in the rubble of a building destroyed in 2023 in the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City on December 15, 2025. The United States, alongside Qatar and Egypt, secured a truce in Gaza that came into effect on October 10 and has mostly halted two years of war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. More than 70,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the outbreak of the war, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)

Listen

THE HAGUE: The International Criminal Court (ICC) rejected a challenge from Israel, which had argued that the court's investigation into crimes committed in the Gaza Strip was invalid. The tribunal, in its ruling, also upheld ICC arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, to face accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The ICC commenced an investigation in the Palestinian territory in 2021, and with the ruling against Israel's challenge, it will now be able to resume it. Monday's 44-page ruling upholds the decision to investigate alleged war crimes committed by Israel in the Palestinian territory. Israel's foreign affairs spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said in an X post that Israel "rejects" the decision, and accused the ICC of "politicisation". The court is currently examining another Israeli challenge to its jurisdiction, as well as a request to disqualify prosecutor Karim Khan over physical abuse allegations — claims he vigorously denies. — AFP

Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here