December 16, 2025 | 01:18 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected Israel’s challenge to the legitimacy of the ongoing ICC investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Gaza since October 2023.
In a ruling issued on Monday, as reported by Anadolu, the judges affirmed the previous decision by the pre-trial chamber. They concluded that there was no "new situation" that required the prosecutor to restart the investigation process from the beginning.
The Appeals Chamber determined that the investigation, which has included events since October 7, 2023, concerns "the same type of armed conflicts, concerning the same territories, with the same alleged parties to these conflicts" within the framework of the long-running Palestinian case.
Israel had argued that the scale of the conflict following October 7 constituted a fundamental change, triggering new legal obligations under Article 18 of the Rome Statute. The judges firmly rejected this argument, concluding that "no substantial change to the parameters of the investigation requiring new notification had occurred."
The ICC confirmed that the initial investigation, opened in 2021, had already encompassed war crimes committed "since June 13, 2014, with no end date."
This ruling strengthens the legal basis for the arrest warrants issued in November 2024 against Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, who are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel rejects the ICC's jurisdiction entirely.
While the judges acknowledged that the decision "does not impact, in any way, on the ability of States… to raise issues of admissibility for cases," the ruling effectively removes a major procedural obstacle to the continuation of the Gaza-related investigation.
Israel has killed nearly 70,700 people, mostly Palestinian women and children, and injured over 171,100 others in the violence in Gaza since October 2023.
Although a ceasefire has been in place since October 10, Israel continues to launch attacks on the Palestinian enclave.
The humanitarian conditions in Gaza have not improved, as Israel still restricts the entry of aid trucks, violating the humanitarian protocols of the ceasefire agreement.
Read: Senior Hamas Leader Killed in Gaza Strike, Israel Says
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google
ICC Sentences Sudan Janjaweed Leader to 20 Years in Prison
6 hari lalu
Judges at the ICC sentenced a leader of the Sudanese Janjaweed militia in Darfur to 20 years in prison.
Australia Imposes Financial Sanctions and Travel Bans on Four Taliban Officials
9 hari lalu
Australia on Saturday imposed financial sanctions and travel bans on four officials in the Taliban government of Afghanistan.
Netanyahu Heads to New York Despite Warnings from Zohran Mamdani
11 hari lalu
Despite New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's threat to arrest him, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the city.
Acute Famine Confirmed in Two Besieged Sudan Cities
42 hari lalu
El Fasher and Kadugli, two cities in Sudan, are now facing acute famine after months of RSF forces' siege.
ICC Prosecutor Says Sudan Violence Could Amount to War Crimes
42 hari lalu
The ICC prosecutor warns that the atrocities in El Fasher, Sudan, could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Australia Begins Transferring Immigrants to Nauru Under Controversial Deal
48 hari lalu
Australia has begun transferring immigrants to the remote Pacific island nation of Nauru under a controversial agreement signed earlier this year.
Canada to Enforce ICC Arrest Warrant Against Israeli PM Netanyahu
56 hari lalu
Canadian PM Mark Carney says Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested in Canada due to ICC arrest warrant
Gaza: Does Ceasefire Impact International War Crimes Cases?
16 Oktober 2025
The 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan asks Palestinians to stop "lawfare" against Israel and offers Hamas fighters an amnesty.
Israeli PM Netanyahu Declines Invitation to Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt
13 Oktober 2025
The Presidential Palace of Egypt has confirmed that Netanyahu will not attend the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Netanyahu's Flight Takes Longer Route to New York over ICC Arrest Scare
25 September 2025
Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to avoid certain European airspaces raises speculation amid ICC arrest warrant against him.
