The International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking arrest warrants for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the October 7 attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, according to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan in an interview with CNN.

The prosecution is also pursuing warrants for Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and two other top Hamas leaders, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh.

This marks the first time the ICC has targeted the leader of a close U.S. ally. Netanyahu joins Russian President Vladimir Putin and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in facing ICC arrest warrants.

The simultaneous pursuit of warrants for both Israeli and Hamas leaders may draw criticism for equating an elected government with a terrorist organization, CNN reported.

The decision now awaits consideration by a panel of ICC judges.

Written by B.C. Begley