ICC Investigations, Arrest Warrants, and Sanctions Against Israeli Officials
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has undertaken significant legal proceedings addressing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly with regard to Israel's military actions in Gaza since October 2023. After opening a formal investigation into the Situation in the State of Palestine—which includes Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem—the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor filed applications for arrest warrants against key Israeli officials. Specifically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have been named in these warrants for alleged responsibility in grave breaches of international humanitarian law.
The primary charges outlined by the ICC include the use of starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally directing attacks against civilians, and the collective punishment of the Gazan population. The Prosecutor’s dossier asserts that these acts were not isolated incidents but formed part of a state policy to eliminate Hamas, secure hostage return, and collectively penalize the civilian population, actions classified as both war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber rejected Israel's jurisdictional challenges, affirming its legal authority under the Rome Statute to try such cases involving actions on Palestinian territory.
Suffering and Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The human cost of the conflict in Gaza over the past 18 months has been catastrophic for the civilian population. Reports estimate that over 51,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 116,000 injured since the escalation began, with women and children comprising a significant portion of fatalities and casualties. Severely wounded survivors, displaced families, and the psychological toll of relentless violence have left an entire generation traumatized.
The ongoing blockade and the destruction of civilian infrastructure have exacerbated the crisis, resulting in widespread famine, acute shortages of clean water, fuel, and essential medicines. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs describes this as the worst humanitarian disaster in Gaza’s recent history, with entire neighborhoods razed and over 75% of Gaza’s population displaced—often multiple times—into temporary, unsanitary shelters or open spaces. The collapse of water and electricity systems, decimation of health facilities, and near total depletion of food stocks have pushed rates of malnutrition and preventable disease to unprecedented levels among children and the elderly.
Aid convoys often remain stalled at borders, with a reported 3,000 trucks of relief supplies blocked as hunger deepens—described by UNRWA as "deliberate and man-made". Hospitals, many already damaged or destroyed, are unable to cope with the immense demand for trauma care, essential surgery, and maternal health services. The devastation has a compounding effect: not only does it inflict immediate suffering, but it dismantles the fundamental conditions for recovery, stability, and peace.
The Two-State Solution—United Nations’ Proposal for Lasting Peace
The two-state solution has remained the centerpiece of international diplomatic efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, championed by the United Nations, the European Union, and the majority of the world’s governments. This framework seeks the creation of a fully sovereign Palestinian state within the pre-1967 borders—including Gaza and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital—living peacefully alongside Israel within secure and mutually recognized boundaries. It directly addresses key issues: mutual recognition, borders, security arrangements, the return and compensation of refugees, and Jerusalem's status.
The United Nations reiterates that lasting peace, security, dignity, and the legitimate national aspirations for both Israelis and Palestinians are only possible through this formula. The Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called outright rejection of the two-state solution "unacceptable" and stressed that only political compromise and reconciliation can end cycles of violence. The two-state paradigm promises not simply the cessation of armed conflict, but the opening of an era of prosperity, regional integration, and social healing for Israel and Palestine alike.
Religious Promise of Peace for Israel
From a religious perspective, the aspiration for Israel to live in peace is deeply rooted in scriptural and prophetic traditions, most notably within Judaism and echoed in Christianity and Islam. Scriptures often speak of a time when Israel shall be secure and dwell without fear, imploring followers to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem," with peace envisioned as both a spiritual blessing and a social reality. The durability of the Jewish people and the promise of divine protection have been interpreted as assurance of eventual peace and coexistence for Israel. Yet, these same religious sources also emphasize that peace must be intentionally pursued, accompanied by justice, compassion, and wisdom.
The Necessity of Wise Action—Peace Demands Deliberate Choices
Global experience and moral tradition converge in the recognition that peace is not achieved by passive desire but through intentional, courageous action. Wisdom is fundamental; it entails understanding the complexities of the conflict, exercising compassion, and making the difficult compromises necessary for reconciliation. Religious and philosophical traditions alike warn that violence begets only further suffering, underscoring that the road to peace is paved with acts of mercy, justice, and visionary leadership.
ICC’s Judgment: Current Israeli Actions Are Not the Path to Peace
The ICC’s findings and legal actions send a clear message: the methods and consequences of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, particularly the policies resulting in civilian suffering, starvation, and destruction, are not only violations of international law but serve to deepen division and perpetuate cycles of violence. While recognizing Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense, the ICC underlines that strategies which collectively harm civilian populations are antithetical to any sustainable vision of peace. The continued siege and destruction of Gaza, the documentation of war crimes, and the suffering of the Palestinian people reinforce the point that resorting to force and punitive measures undermines Israel’s own long-term security and regional stability.
The European Union’s Consistent Advocacy for the Two-State Solution
The European Union stands out as a persistent international actor pushing for the two-state solution as the only realistic basis for peace in the region. The EU frequently calls on Israel to halt settlement expansion, lift restrictive measures on Gaza, and engage in serious negotiations with the Palestinian leadership. Its aid programs, diplomatic efforts, and policy declarations consistently emphasize the inseparability of Israeli security from Palestinian statehood and dignity. The recent formation of a Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, involving the EU, Arab League, and other international partners, further exemplifies this determined diplomatic posture.
The Path Forward: How Wisdom and the Two-State Solution Lead to the Promised Age of Peace
True peace—for Israel and the region—will only arise through an intentional shift towards listening to international consensus and exercising wisdom by addressing both historical grievances and security needs. The religious promise of peace for Israel is not divorced from reality but is achieved when actions align with justice, dignity, and reconciliation. Adopting the two-state solution, as advised by the UN and EU, would meet the deepest aspirations of both peoples and fulfill the spiritual and pragmatic call for an age of prosperity where Israel, alongside a sovereign Palestinian state, can truly flourish in security and peace.
When Israel embraces this wisdom—opting for inclusive diplomacy, protecting human rights, and accepting shared sovereignty—it can ultimately walk the path into the era of peace and prosperity long promised by both faith and international vision. Only through action—wise, principled, and cooperative—can the hope for Israel’s peace, and that of its Palestinian neighbors, be realized.
