The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

The International Criminal Court said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe they bore responsibility for various crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The move by the International Criminal Court will complicate travel by Israel’s prime minister and former defense minister, who would risk arrest in the court’s member countries.