ICC Investigation Threaten Senior Israeli Officials   with Warrant  Arrest   

The "Jerusalem Post" newspaper said that high-ranking Israeli officials led by the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu may face possible arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

The newspaper mentioned that among those threatened with arrest as part of the investigation into war crimes committed in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip since June 13, 2014, were former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, and current Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who was the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army (IDF) at the time, in addition, A number of army commanders in the country.

It is not clear to what extent the ICC will be able to identify specific Israeli field commanders, although there are some exceptions, such as Brigadier General Ofer Winter, who spoke repeatedly to the media about his participation in the Battle of Black Friday on August 1, 2014, it is the bloodiest battle in the war against Palestinian civilians.

Winter was investigated by the IDF and his promotion was suspended for a long time, but he was acquitted after a detailed investigation in 2018 by the IDF Attorney General, Sharon Avik.

The International Criminal Court could also target a small number of other officers whose names were disclosed in the Israeli army investigations or media leaks.

The court's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said there was a "reasonable basis" to believe that crimes were committed by members of the Israel Defense Forces)IDF),  Israeli authorities, Hamas, and Palestinian armed factions during the 2014 Gaza war.

The Prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda, confirmed on Wednesday, that her office has opened an official investigation into alleged war crimes committed in the Palestinian territories.

Bensouda, whose mandate will expire on June 15, said in a statement: “I confirm that the Prosecutor's Office at the International Criminal Court has launched an investigation into the situation in Palestine.

She indicated that this decision came after a painstaking preliminary examination conducted by her office, adding that it lasted about five years.