Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently condemned the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) prosecutor for seeking arrest warrants against him and Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes during the Gaza conflict.
Benjamin Netanyahu expressed strong opposition to being equated with what he termed as “mass murderers,” rejecting the ICC’s move as “absurd and false.”
US President Joe Biden echoed Benjamin Netanyahu’s sentiments, stating unequivocally that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas. He emphasized Israel’s commitment to civilian protection.
The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, cited reasonable grounds to believe that Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant bore criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The accusations stem from events on 7 October, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages. The prosecutor also sought warrants for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and others.
Israel and its key ally, the US, are not ICC members. Both nations have strongly opposed the ICC’s jurisdiction over this matter.
In response, PM Netanyahu denounced the ICC’s comparison of Hamas and Israel as a “distortion of reality” and accused the prosecutor of fueling antisemitism.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned the ICC’s move as a “historical disgrace.” However, some Western allies of Israel avoided direct criticism of the ICC while supporting its fight against impunity.
Hamas also denounced the ICC’s attempt to equate “the victim with the executioner,” demanding the cancellation of arrest warrants against Palestinian resistance leaders.
The ICC’s pursuit of warrants against PM Netanyahu and Hamas leaders has reignited debate over international justice and accountability amid ongoing tensions in the region.
