---
title: "Israel asks ICC judges to withdraw Netanyahu arrest warrant"
description: "Israel has asked judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw arrest warrants against its prime minister and defence minister while the ICC reviews Israeli challenges to its jurisdiction over the conduct of the Gaza war."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-12-israel-asks-icc-judges-to-withdraw-netanyahu-arrest-warrant/"
published: "2025-05-12T12:50:55"
updated: "2025-05-12T12:50:57"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 207
---

# Israel asks ICC judges to withdraw Netanyahu arrest warrant

> Israel has asked judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw arrest warrants against its prime minister and defence minister while the ICC reviews Israeli challenges to its jurisdiction over the conduct of the Gaza war.

By Reuters · Published 12 May 2025, 14:50 SAST · Updated 12 May 2025, 14:50 SAST

## Key points
- In a riveting twist worthy of a courtroom drama, Israel is now pleading with the ICC to hit the pause button on its investigation into alleged war crimes, all while the court has already issued arrest warrants for some of its top brass—talk about a legal game of dodgeball!
- Israel has requested the ICC to suspend its investigation into alleged atrocity crimes in the Palestinian Territories.
- The request, dated May 9, was signed by Israeli Deputy Attorney General Gilad Noam.
- The ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli PM Netanyahu and former defence chief Gallant, alongside Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri, for war crimes.
- The ICC's appeals chamber is set to review Israel's objections regarding jurisdiction and the legality of the warrants, though no deadlines have been established.

## Content

Documents published on the ICC website late on Sunday also show Israel has asked the court to order the prosecution to suspend its investigation into alleged atrocity crimes in the Palestinian Territories.

The documents are dated May 9 and signed by Israeli Deputy Attorney General Gilad Noam.

The ICC issued arrest warrants on Nov. 21 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

The ICC said in February that judges had withdrawn the arrest warrant for al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, following credible reports of his death.

Israel, which rejects the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes in Gaza, is contesting the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.

In April the ICC's appeals chamber ruled that the judges of the pre-trial chamber which issued the warrants must review Israel's objections regarding the court's jurisdiction and the legality of the arrest warrants.

It is not clear what form the ordered review will take and there are no specific deadlines set for decisions on Israel's request to withdraw the warrants and halt the investigation.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den BergEditing by Gareth Jones)