The International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor is requesting arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister. Officials on both sides are being accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity — claims they strongly deny and argue benefit their enemies.

Could these requests make a difference in the war? And what goes into building a war crimes case at the ICC? Michael Lynk, a former UN Special Rapporteur for the human rights situation in the Palestinian Territories, breaks down what comes next.