Netanyahu Not Designated as a "War Criminal" by International Criminal Court - Misinformation Debunked
International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrant Against Benjamin Netanyahu, Not a Guilty Verdict
Contrary to a misleading news report circulating online, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has not declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal. As of now, there is no official guilty verdict against Netanyahu for war crimes or crimes against humanity.
The false claim, originating from an unverified source, alleged that the ICC had issued a ruling in The Hague on May 26, 2025, declaring Netanyahu guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. However, our search across the ICC's website and social media platforms, as well as international media outlets, found no such evidence.
On May 26, the ICC did publish a document concerning the situation in Palestine, but it made no mention of a guilty verdict for Netanyahu. Instead, the document referred to an ongoing appeal by Israel regarding the ICC's investigation into events in Gaza since October 2023. Israel disputes the ICC's authority to issue the arrest warrants it did on November 21, 2024, against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
These warrants were issued in relation to crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed from October 2023 to May 20, 2024. The ICC's investigation into these allegations is ongoing. Israel has challenged the ICC's jurisdiction and has requested the withdrawal of the warrants, but the ICC Prosecutor has urged judges to reject this request.
In light of this ongoing investigation and the incorrect claims circulating online, it is crucial to verify news sources before sharing information. The ICC has not yet declared Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal, despite erroneous reports to the contrary.
Enrichment Data:- The evidence against Netanyahu and Gallant entails allegations such as "starvation as a method of war" [3][5].- The ICC's investigation into the allegations is ongoing, with the Prosecutor's Office arguing that there is no legal basis to withdraw or vacate the arrest warrants [5].- Despite Israel's challenges, the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant remain in effect [3][5].
Despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing arrest warrants against both Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant in relation to allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, there has been no official guilty verdict against Netanyahu as of May 26, 2025. Furthermore, ongoing debates on policy-and-legislation, particularly within politics, center on the legitimacy of the ICC's power to investigate and prosecute these cases, given the general-news reports disputing the court's jurisdiction.
