New Delhi: An arrest warrant has been issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The ICC i.e. the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu as well as former Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Hamas military commander Mohammad Def. This decision of the International Criminal Court has been supported by many countries including France and Norway. The ICC has accused Netanyahu of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks. Earlier, ICC had issued an arrest warrant against Putin. Now the question is, what is this ICC, how different is it from ICJ i.e. International Court of Justice. Does it have any connection with India or not?
First of all what is ICC?
The full name of ICC is International Criminal Court. This is a global court. The International Criminal Court is the largest court in the world. The headquarters of ICC is in The Hague, Netherlands. It was formed in 2002. War mongers and heads of state are prosecuted in the International Criminal Court. It investigates and, where necessary, prosecutes individuals accused of the most serious crimes committed by the international community, including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression. However, many powerful countries including America do not accept its authority. He is not even its member.
Who are the members?
At present, 124 countries including Britain, Japan, Afghanistan and Germany are members of the International Criminal Court. Like America, India, Israel and China are also not its member countries. America has been involved in many major conflicts since the formation of this court. That is why he has refrained from taking membership. America does not want this tribunal to be used to prosecute its citizens. Most of the European countries are its members. These member countries are formally committed to executing the arrest warrant.
Now the question is how is ICC different from ICJ?
The ICC was established to prosecute specific types of heinous crimes. That too, when a country is not able to do so through its legal machinery or does not want to do so. ICC i.e. International Criminal Court is different from ICJ i.e. International Court of Justice. The ICJ deals with state and inter-state disputes, while the ICC prosecutes individuals. That means, when there is a country’s issue then there is ICJ for it and if there is an individual’s issue then there is ICC for that.
Understand the basic difference between ICJ and ICC
- ICJ: deals with disputes between countries and the responsibility of states
- ICC: Prosecutes individuals for serious international crimes.
- The jurisdiction of the ICJ is extensive.
- The ICC’s jurisdiction is limited to specific crimes.
- ICJ decisions are binding.
- The ICC is dependent on state cooperation.
- ICJ is an important part of the United Nations
- ICC is not part of the United Nations.
Now let us know what is International Court of Justice
ICJ i.e. International Court of Justice is a part of UN i.e. United Nations. It was established by the United Nations Charter in 1945. The International Court of Justice started functioning in April 1946. Like ICC, the headquarters of ICJ is also in The Hague, Netherlands. Its main function is to settle legal disputes between countries. Apart from this, the work of ICJ is also to advise the United Nations and its specialized agencies on legal questions. It is known as International Court. Its decisions are binding and final.
Who have been judges from India’s side in the International Court?
1. Dalveer Bhandari (2012 to present)
2. Raghunandan Swaroop Pathak (1989-1991)
3. Nagendra Singh (1973- 1988)
4. Sir Benegal Rao (1952-1953)
India is a member of ICJ
Even though India is not a member of the ICC, India is a member of the International Court of Justice. India has fought the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav in the International Court of Justice. Dalveer Bhandari is currently a judge of the International Court of Justice. On behalf of India, he was elected as a judge in the International Court on 27 April 2012. In November 2017, he was also elected for the second term on this post. Justice Dalveer Bhandari became a judge of the Supreme Court in the year 2005.
Tag: Benjamin Netanyahu, icc rules, world News
first published : November 22, 2024, 1:57 pm IST
