Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken out against the International Criminal Court’s decision to pursue arrest warrants against him and his defense minister, calling it an example of the new antisemitism. The ICC prosecutor has stated that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war in Gaza. Netanyahu rejected the prosecutor’s comparison of Israel to Hamas, stating that it is a distortion of reality and a form of antisemitism that has moved from the campuses in the West to the court in The Hague. He believes that the arrest warrants are not only directed against him and his defense minister but against the entire State of Israel.
Netanyahu also condemned the ICC’s request for arrest warrants for him and Hamas leaders, describing it as absurd and false. He emphasized that the warrants are not just targeting him and his defense minister but also the IDF soldiers who are fighting against Hamas with heroism. He reiterated his determination to overthrow Hamas and achieve complete victory. The ICC’s Khan outlined the alleged crimes that Netanyahu and Gallant are responsible for, including the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population. Khan stated that the evidence collected by the ICC, including interviews with survivors, authenticated video, photo, and audio material, satellite imagery, and statements from the alleged perpetrator group, indicates that Israel intentionally deprived the civilian population in Gaza of essential objects for survival.
Despite acknowledging Israel’s right to defend its population, Khan emphasized that this does not exempt Israel from complying with international humanitarian law. Netanyahu’s remarks come in the wake of criticism from U.S. President Joe Biden, who slammed the ICC’s “outrageous” request for arrest warrants against him and Hamas leaders. Netanyahu believes that the ICC’s actions are part of a broader trend of new antisemitism, with Israel being unfairly targeted on the global stage. He remains steadfast in his commitment to defeating Hamas and achieving victory. The controversy surrounding the ICC’s decision to pursue arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leaders highlights the complex and contentious nature of international relations in the context of conflict in the Middle East.
