THE HAGUE September 07. 2024 (Saba) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) has dropped its case and proceedings against Ismail Haniyah, the former head of Hamas' political bureau, due to the changing circumstances resulting from his assassination in Tehran on July 31.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan had asked the court to issue an arrest warrant for Haniyah, along with other senior Hamas officials, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war minister Yoav Gallant.
However, the court said in a statement late on Friday: "Khan dropped the application filed against Haniyah on the second of August due to the changing circumstances resulting from Haniyah's death."
"As a result, the court ends the proceedings against Ismail Haniyah.
The court is still considering Khan's request for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
Khan accused both Netanyahu and Gallant of "committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including starving civilians and deliberately directing attacks against the civilian population."
Haniyah and his companion were killed on July 31 at his residence in Tehran after participating in the inauguration of Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, and a few hours after the assassination of one of the most prominent Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon, Fouad Shukr, in a raid on the southern suburbs of Beirut.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan had asked the court to issue an arrest warrant for Haniyah, along with other senior Hamas officials, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war minister Yoav Gallant.
However, the court said in a statement late on Friday: "Khan dropped the application filed against Haniyah on the second of August due to the changing circumstances resulting from Haniyah's death."
"As a result, the court ends the proceedings against Ismail Haniyah.
The court is still considering Khan's request for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
Khan accused both Netanyahu and Gallant of "committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including starving civilians and deliberately directing attacks against the civilian population."
Haniyah and his companion were killed on July 31 at his residence in Tehran after participating in the inauguration of Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, and a few hours after the assassination of one of the most prominent Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon, Fouad Shukr, in a raid on the southern suburbs of Beirut.