The International Criminal Court is considering arrest warrants against leaders of Israel and Hamas, while cease-fire and hostage release talks continue.
The US and its allies are concerned about the impending move by the International Criminal Court saying it may potentially jeopardize a hostage release deal, people familiar with the matter said.
The worry is that Israel would back out of a truce if the ICC proceeds with the warrants, according to two of the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.
Group of Seven nations have begun a quiet diplomatic effort to convey that message to the Hague-based court, the people said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said late on Sunday that it has issued warnings to senior political and military officials that they could soon face arrest warrants.
Israeli officials have referred in recent days to an ICC probe launched three years ago into possible war crimes committed by Israel and Palestinian fighters going back to the 2014 Israel-Hamas war.
The investigation is also charged with looking at Israel’s construction of settlements in occupied territory such as the West Bank.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel “will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defence”.
Israel launched its latest war on the Gaza Strip on October 7 after Hamas carried out attacks in southern Israel, killing 1,139 people.
Israel is not a member of the court and does not recognise its jurisdiction, but the Palestinian territory was admitted with the status of a member state in 2015.
In October, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan said the court had jurisdiction over any potential war crimes committed by Hamas fighters in Israel and by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
Khan has said his team is investigating whether any crimes have been committed in Gaza and those who are in breach of the law will be held accountable.
The investigation at the ICC – which tries individuals on allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide – is separate from a genocide case launched against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also based in The Hague.
