ICC Prosecutor: Putin and Netanyahu Could Face Trial in Absentia

A senior prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) stated that trials in absentia are a possibility for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both leaders are subject to ICC arrest warrants. Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan made the comment on Friday. She said such proceedings are "conceivable" under the court's rules. An in absentia hearing means a trial can proceed without the defendant present. This occurs if the accused cannot be apprehended or refuses to appear. The ICC issued a warrant for President Putin in March 2023. The charges concern alleged war crimes involving the deportation of Ukrainian children. The court issued warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in May 2024. The allegations involve starvation of civilians as a method of warfare during the conflict in Gaza. All three men have publicly rejected the ICC's accusations and jurisdiction. The court relies on member states to make arrests, which has not yet occurred.