Israel has tested its newest and most advanced official aircraft in flight, the Wing of Zion. Critics on the opposition side have challenged the high price, approaching 200 million euros, yet the prime minister has defended the need for this floating fortress, equipped with anti-missile laser systems and an on-board war room. It can travel long distances without refueling to places like the United States, China, Japan, or Brazil. The aircraft has not yet been launched, and its flight plan with the prime minister aboard may be limited if the Netherlands schedules an arrest warrant against him and the leadership for other concerns comes to fruition.
Prosecutor Karim Khan at the International Criminal Court in The Hague has recently requested international arrest warrants for Netanyahu himself, along with his defense minister Yoav Galant and several Hamas leaders. If a three-judge panel reviewing the request approves it, Netanyahu could find travel restricted across the 123 states that are parties to the Rome Statute, theoretically obliging those states to detain him and his minister upon entry.
They are considered potential perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including allegations of using starvation as a weapon of war and blocking access to water and food in the Gaza Strip. The charges carry a historic scope for a democratic leader and mark a novel development for the ICC. Previously, arrest warrants had targeted alleged genociders in African nations such as Omar al‑Bashir and, more recently, Vladimir Putin.
“This is just the first stone,” said Gilles Devers, a French lawyer who has led an international case against Israel in The Hague. “The new phase begins as three judges must decide whether the prosecutor’s request is sound.” The Rome Statute parties are obligated to execute warrants, though a clause indicates that fulfilling these duties should not force states to violate other treaties, such as immunities for foreign leaders. In any case, the matter could effectively imprison Netanyahu within his own country’s borders due to a controversial political dimension, according to legal experts.
Raji Sourani, founder of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, argued that the decision arrives too late, with the loss of many lives in Gaza. He criticized the absence of language on genocide or ethnic cleansing and questioned the prosecutor’s stance, saying the investigation should consider events dating back to 2014 rather than focusing on incidents beginning in October. Sourani had previously labeled the prosecutor as pro-Israel and criticized perceived delays in the case.
The ICC has also requested arrest warrants for Hamas’ top leadership, including Gaza’s Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the head of its military wing Mohamed Diab al-Masri, known as Abu Deif, and Ismail Haniya, the head of Hamas’s political wing. They stand accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories since October. The charges include sexual violence, torture, and other inhumane acts. In the same period, 1,154 Israelis were killed in the deadliest attack on Israeli soil in the nation’s history, according to press reports.
On the possible warrants for Netanyahu and Galant, Khan has cited “reasonable” grounds to prosecute them for crimes committed in the Palestinian territories and Gaza since October 8. The prosecutors allege the acts include starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, intentional infliction of severe suffering, cruel treatment, and other forms of murder or extermination. In Gaza, tens of thousands have died, including a large number of children, a statistic cited by multiple outlets and observers.
The ICC’s investigation has relied on material from the parties involved, including testimony from survivors and witnesses, verified videos and photographs, audio material, satellite imagery, and other documents. The prosecutors argue that Israel has deliberately and systematically deprived civilians in Gaza of essential resources necessary for survival, detailing what is described as a total siege of Gaza with blocked border crossings, disrupted water pipes, and hindered supply of food and electricity.
Experts say the decision signals a shift in accountability for actions during the ongoing conflict. “Israel has lost a sense of impunity, and the evidence and statements show a clear intent to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity,” commented Haizam Amirah Fernández, a professor of International Relations. He emphasized that the case challenges the international order established by the Rome Statute and normalizes the notion that states can be held to account for grave violations of international law.
The development follows U.S. congressional inquiries into the prosecutor, with some lawmakers threatening reprisals if warrants are issued. The White House and Israel have criticized the move, while Tel Aviv has framed the step as politically charged. The Rome Statute is not universally ratified; some major powers have signed but not ratified it, including the United States and Israel. Palestine, however, is a party to the statute, which enables the ICC to pursue crimes committed in the territory.
The situation remains highly fluid, with international reactions ranging from strong opposition to cautious acceptance, as the international community weighs legality, sovereignty, and the pursuit of justice in a volatile regional landscape. The ongoing process is watched closely by governments, legal scholars, and human rights advocates around the world, who see it as a test of whether international institutions can enforce accountability for the gravest crimes while navigating political realities and state interests.