Israel’s Bid to Halt Hague Probe Fails

The Hague Appeals Court has rejected Israel’s request to halt its investigation into war crimes in Gaza. The ruling paves the way for the investigation to continue and for the execution of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister.

News ID: 87047

Date: 16 December 2025 - 10:35

TEHRAN (Defapress) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Court on Monday, December 15, 2025, rejected one of Israel’s legal challenges. The challenge aimed to block the prosecution’s investigation into the Zionist regime’s brutal crimes following multiple attacks on the people of Gaza. The judges, upholding the Pre-Trial Chamber’s decision, stressed that the court’s ongoing investigation also covers events after October 2023 and that no new notification to Israel is required.

The ruling paves the way for the investigation into the situation in Palestine to proceed. The investigation that led to the issuance of arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The arrest warrants remain valid, and the court has emphasized that the events after October 7 are part of the same investigation situation that began in 2021.

The Zionist regime does not recognize the jurisdiction of the Hague court and denies committing any war crimes in Gaza. The regime argued that the military operation against Gaza created a new situation and required a new notification, which was triggered by additional referrals submitted to the court by seven other countries since November 2023, including South Africa, Chile, and Mexico.

But the appeals judges rejected this view, saying that the 2021 notification also covered subsequent events. Therefore, no new notification is required, and the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant remain valid.

The ruling comes as Israel’s assault on Gaza continues to claim lives and cause widespread destruction. Since the ceasefire began on October 11, 2025, at least 391 Palestinians have been killed and 1,063 injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. 632 bodies have also been pulled from the rubble.

The overall toll as of October 7, 2023, shows that at least 70,663 Palestinians have died, and 171,139 have been injured. The numbers highlight the depth of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where infrastructure has been destroyed, and access to humanitarian aid is limited. The ICC’s decision could increase international pressure on Israel, especially as the international community seeks lasting solutions to end the conflict.

Analysts say the ruling is an important step towards accountability for war crimes and could influence future negotiations. However, Israel is likely to continue its resistance and may rely on the support of its allies, such as the United States, which also does not recognize the International Criminal Court.