Israel Responds to ICC Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant
The ICC issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, marking an unprecedented move against Israeli leaders. This decision has sparked a strong reaction from Israel and its allies, who see it as politically motivated.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the warrants “outrageous,” accusing the ICC of exploiting international legal institutions for political gain and undermining universal justice.
Defense Minister Gideon Saar argued the warrants were an assault on Israel’s right to defend itself and criticized the ICC’s legitimacy.
Netanyahu’s office denounced the warrants as “antisemitic,” and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir suggested annexing the West Bank and sanctioning the Palestinian Authority for facilitating the ICC’s jurisdiction.
While many domestic opponents rallied behind Netanyahu, a few left-wing politicians, including Ofer Cassif, welcomed the ICC’s decision, arguing that no one should be above international law.
