The International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking arrest warrants for top leaders of Hamas and Israel, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This move marks the first time the ICC has targeted the leader of a close US ally.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced the decision on CNN, stating that the prosecution team is also seeking warrants for Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and two other high-ranking Hamas leaders, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh.

The charges against Netanyahu and Gallant include extermination, starvation, and targeting civilians, while the charges against the Hamas leaders include extermination, murder, taking hostages, rape, and sexual assault.

Khan emphasized that the evidence includes authenticated video footage, photographs, eyewitness accounts, and survivor testimony. He stressed that Israel has a right and obligation to rescue hostages but must do so within the bounds of the law.

Netanyahu responded, calling the decision a "political outrage" and vowing to continue the war until hostages are released and Hamas is destroyed. Hamas condemned the move, calling for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders and soldiers who have committed crimes against Palestinians.

A panel of ICC judges will now review Khan's application for the arrest warrants. If granted, it would mark a significant development in the international community's efforts to hold leaders accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.