The International Criminal Court has dismissed Israel’s latest attempt to derail an investigation into crimes committed in Gaza, maintaining the validity of arrest warrants issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. The ruling, delivered by the Court’s Appeals Chamber, reinforces the legal track examining responsibility for actions carried out during the genocidal war that has devastated the besieged territory since October 2023.

Judges rejected Israel’s claim that the Court lacked jurisdiction and ruled that no fresh notification was required for the post-October investigation, as it fell within the scope of the inquiry opened in 2021. That earlier probe, initiated following a Palestinian referral and later supported by additional states, laid the groundwork for examining alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes linked to Gaza. The Court also dismissed challenges aimed at questioning the impartiality of the prosecutor, concluding that Israel’s arguments did not meet the threshold to invalidate the proceedings.

Legal observers noted that Israel chose to contest the Court’s authority rather than rely on the principle of complementarity, which would require demonstrating genuine domestic investigations. The decision was widely seen as a reaffirmation of the ICC’s mandate and independence, particularly in the face of mounting political pressure surrounding the Gaza file.

The ruling comes amid sustained efforts to intimidate or constrain the Court, including sanctions imposed by the United States on ICC officials and warnings directed at senior prosecutors. These measures have already disrupted the Court’s work, with financial and legal threats prompting some organisations and individuals to withdraw cooperation. Despite this, the Appeals Chamber’s stance signals that external pressure will not halt judicial scrutiny of alleged atrocities.

Since October 2023, Gaza has endured catastrophic loss of life and widespread destruction, with tens of thousands killed and much of the territory reduced to rubble. Human rights experts continue to describe the situation as a genocide carried out with international complicity, arguing that the Court’s decision represents a rare step towards accountability in a landscape marked by prolonged impunity.