ICC rejects Israel’s appeal, upholds war crimes probe into Netanyahu and Gallant over Gaza conflict.

The International Criminal Court has rejected Israel’s appeal to halt its investigation into alleged war crimes in Gaza, affirming the court’s authority to proceed. The ruling, issued on December 15, 2025, upholds arrest warrants issued in November 2024 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC determined that the conflict after October 7, 2023, did not constitute a "new situation" requiring a restart of the investigation, which began in 2021. Israel, which is not a party to the Rome Statute, criticized the decision as politically motivated and a violation of its sovereignty, but the court maintains jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories. The investigation remains active, with no immediate changes expected.