The Hague (Agencies): The International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced the replacement of one of the judges deciding whether to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant due to health reasons. Romanian magistrate Iulia Motoc, who was presiding over the case, requested to be replaced on health grounds and was immediately succeeded by Slovenian ICC judge Beti Hohler.
In May, the ICC announced it was seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and three Hamas leaders, citing reasonable grounds for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The three Hamas leaders, Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammed Deif, have since been killed by Israeli attacks.
The replacement of Judge Motoc is expected to delay the decision on the arrest warrants, as Judge Hohler will need time to familiarize herself with the case filings.