International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has defended his decision to pursue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders over war crimes in Gaza.

In an interview with German news outlet Der Spiegel, Khan underscored the need for urgent action, dismissing criticism of his timing.

“Should I wait until everybody’s dead?” Khan said, responding to claims that he was acting prematurely by seeking arrest warrants against high-profile Israeli figures and three Hamas leaders. The prosecutor emphasized the necessity of immediate legal intervention, especially during active conflicts.

“If your father, your mother, your grandfather was a hostage, would you really want me to wait?” Khan questioned, explaining that timely action could make a difference in the lives of those affected. “If this was your child or your sister blown to bits, would you want me to wait?” He further illustrated the importance of real-time enforcement of international law: “If you are a firefighter, you don’t wait until the house is burned down and the neighborhood is in flames.”

The ICC, founded in 2002, is tasked with prosecuting individuals for serious international offenses, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. In May, following an investigation into the situation in Gaza, Khan issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The prosecutor’s office cited evidence of potential war crimes and crimes against humanity in its decision, drawing significant international attention.

Khan’s remarks come as the ICC faces increased scrutiny for its investigations and actions amid ongoing genocide and humanitarian concerns in Gaza. (ILKHA)