Israel launches attack on Gaza despite ICC order
DEIR AL-BALAH, GAZA - NOVEMBER 19: (EDITORS NOTE: Image depicts graphic content) A Palestinian woman and child, who were wounded in an Israeli army attack on a house belonging to the Abu Shamala family in Bureij refugee camp, are being treated at Al-Awda Hospital located in Nuseirat refugee camp on November 19, 2024 in Deir al-Balah, Gaza. It was reported that there were casualties and wounded, including children. ( Hassan Jedi - Anadolu Agency )
The Israeli military announced on Friday that it killed two Hamas commanders linked to the October 7 attacks and several others as it intensified its offensive in northern Gaza.
This development followed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes including starvation as a method of warfare.
In northern Gaza, Israeli airstrikes targeted Beit Lahia and Jabalia, reportedly killing dozens, according to local medics.
The strikes were part of Israel’s broader military operation to dismantle Hamas in the territory. The military claimed its airstrike killed five Hamas militants, including the two commanders responsible for last year’s attacks.
Meanwhile, conflict with Hezbollah, a Hamas ally in Lebanon, has escalated. Early Friday, Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stronghold for the Iran-backed group.
The ICC’s arrest warrants have sparked varied international responses. While some leaders have pledged to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they enter their territories, others, including U.S. President Joe Biden, condemned the decision. Netanyahu dismissed the ICC’s actions as “absurd” and accused the court of harboring anti-Semitic bias.
The situation remains critical as accusations of war crimes and genocide continue to fuel global debate, with mounting casualties in Gaza and ongoing military actions.
