ICC Denies Secret Arrest Warrants for Israeli Officials Amid Internal Crisis

The International Criminal Court has firmly denied reports that it issued new secret arrest warrants targeting five senior Israeli officials, including three politicians and two military figures. The denial came after the Israeli newspaper Haaretz published a story citing a diplomatic source who claimed the ICC's top prosecutor had filed sealed requests for the warrants in connection with alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip. ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet stated the Haaretz report was inaccurate and confirmed no new warrants had been issued regarding the situation in Palestine.

The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of existing public arrest warrants issued in November 2024 against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Some reports had suggested the court might use secret warrants to facilitate arrests during international travel, but the ICC's official position directly contradicts the Haaretz claim.

The denial also coincides with significant internal upheaval at the tribunal. Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has been temporarily suspended following a whistleblower complaint alleging he sexually assaulted a female employee. The dual controversies — the disputed warrant reports and the prosecutor's suspension — have intensified scrutiny of the court at a critical juncture in its high-profile investigation into Israeli conduct during the Gaza conflict.