ICC seeks arrest warrants for Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar

Published May 20, 2024 | Updated May 21, 2024 4:48 AM

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking arrest warrants for Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.

ICC Prosecutor Karim AA Khan KC has made applications for the warrants, claiming he has reasonable grounds to believe that Sinwar has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The applications allege that Sinwar was involved in the planning and execution of indiscriminate attacks on Israeli civilians, which killed and injured hundreds of people, including women and children.

The ICC is an independent, international court that investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of committing the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

If the arrest warrants are granted, Sinwar would be the first Hamas leader to be arrested by the ICC.

The applications for the arrest warrants come amid a wider investigation by the ICC into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.