ICC decision draws furious response in Israel

Hello. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defence minister, as well as the military commander of Hamas, over alleged war crimes. Frank Gardner explains Israel's reaction to the news. As Russia says it tested a new missile in a strike on Dnipro, Paul Adams writes about Ukrainians' hopes for the future. We're also looking into the deaths of several tourists in Laos, and witnessing a scary near miss between a man and a tiger in China.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What ICC arrest warrants mean for Israel

ICC members do not always choose to enforce warrants. Credit: EPA/Reuters/Supplied

The announcement of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has triggered a furious response in Israel. Hamas has welcomed the decision, without commenting on the warrant for its own military commander, Mohammed Deif.

What's been the response to the ICC decision?

The announcement is a major blow to Israel’s international standing, to the two individuals named and most specifically to Israel’s ongoing efforts to present its military campaign in Gaza as a fight between the forces of good and evil. Israelis are appalled that, in their eyes, the world seems to have already forgotten or overlooked the atrocities committed by Hamas on 7 October last year. Palestinians, especially Gazans, feel vindicated that their accusations of Israeli war crimes have now been echoed by an international body with some weight.

What effect will the arrest warrants have?

A total of 124 countries are signatories to the ICC, including the UK, but not the US, Russia, China, nor Israel itself. So this means that technically, if either Netanyahu or Gallant sets foot in any of the signatory countries they must be arrested and handed over to the court. But international lawyers have expressed doubts over whether either man will ever be brought to The Hague for trial.

Will the court hold Hamas to account?

Hamas has little to fear from the ICC warrant for Ibrahim Al-Masri, aka Mohammed Deif. Israel believes the military commander was killed earlier this year, although this was never confirmed by Hamas. The other two Hamas figures whom the ICC originally planned to prosecute – Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh – are both confirmed as dead.

THE BIG PICTURE

Deaths highlight tainted alcohol problem

Towns like Vang Vieng in Laos - where the fatal poisonings took place - are popular backpackers' destinations. Credit: Getty Images

Suspected methanol poisoning from tainted drinks has reportedly killed five tourists in Laos in the past fortnight. A well-known issue across Asia, particularly in the poorer countries along the Mekong river, there is still little awareness of methanol poisoning among those in the backpacker scene.

And finally... in China

A farmer in China had the scare of his life when a Siberian tiger rammed into the farm gate moments after he closed it. Surveillance footage captured the encounter - not the first time the animal targeted a villager, according to local media reports.