**ICC to Investigate Israeli and Palestinian Leaders**
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has decided to investigate three top leaders: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel‘s Prime Minister, and two other men. They are accused of serious crimes during a conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
**Background to the Conflict**
In October 2023, Hamas gunmen attacked Israel, killing many people and taking others hostage. Israel responded with a military campaign against Hamas. Many people were killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
**ICC’s Decision**
The ICC has found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that these three leaders committed serious crimes. They include murder, torture, rape, and other forms of violence. The court also believes that these crimes were part of a larger attack on civilians by Hamas and other groups.
**What the ICC Found**
For one of the men, Deif, the ICC found reasonable grounds to believe he was responsible for many serious crimes, including murder and rape. For Netanyahu and another man, Gallant, the ICC found they had “criminal responsibility” for war crimes and crimes against humanity. This includes starving civilians as a method of warfare.
**What’s Next**
The ICC will now investigate these leaders further. The decision to investigate is an important step towards bringing those responsible for serious crimes to justice.