• ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan stated that Israel has shown "no real effort" to investigate war crimes allegations related to the Gaza conflict.
• Issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Chief Yoav Gallant last November for alleged crimes against humanity.
• The United States recently voted to sanction the ICC, protesting against its actions, which Khan described as "unwanted and unwelcome."
• This criticism comes amid ongoing political turmoil and a fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
• Khan emphasized the need for proper investigative measures to uphold international justice standards.

The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, has emphatically defended the court's decision to issue arrest warrants against Israeli authorities, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Chief Yoav Gallant, stating that Israel has made "no real effort" to examine allegations of war crimes stemming from the Gaza conflict. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Khan articulated concerns that Israel has failed to utilize its legal resources to address these serious charges adequately.

Last November, the ICC judges issued arrest warrants relating to alleged crimes against humanity amidst what has been described as a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Khan reiterated that were Israel to conduct thorough investigations, the ICC could potentially defer cases back to Israeli courts under complementary principles. However, this prospect appears faint, as Israel has flatly rejected the jurisdiction of the ICC and continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Khan noted that the United States, Israel's primary ally and not an ICC member, has shown strong support for Israeli leadership, recently voting to sanction the ICC in a move condemned by Khan as "unwanted and unwelcome." The ICC functions as a court of last resort for prosecuting individuals accused of grave offenses, including war crimes and genocide. Khan stressed the importance of justice, stating, "we haven’t seen any real effort by the State of Israel to take action that would meet the established jurisprudence."

The criticism comes at a pivotal time as a ceasefire agreement between Israel and *Hamas* is reportedly underway after approximately 460 days of conflict. Recent political maneuverings by Netanyahu, aimed at postponing discussions regarding the ceasefire in light of pressures from hardliners within his government, have intensified scrutiny of his administration's strategies and objectives.

With the ceasefire hanging in the balance and objections anticipated, the region remains on edge, grappling with the broader implications of these ongoing legal and political challenges. Many hope that Israel's legal frameworks will later come to play a role in restoring justice in the occupied territories, though doubts remain regarding the state's willingness to hold itself accountable for documented abuses. For a comprehensive understanding of the current situation, further details can be referenced in the complete articles from Reuters and Al Jazeera.