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Screenshot: Benjamin Netanyahu/X

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas official Mohammed Deif. The charges stem from alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

According to the ICC, Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of “using starvation as a method of warfare” and engaging in “murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.” The tribunal also claims the Israeli leaders targeted civilians deliberately.

The decision was harshly criticized by Israel and pointed out as politically motivated. In response, Fox News reported that the Israeli government called the accusations “absurd and anti-Semitic.”

“The Israeli Defense Forces are engaged in the most just war in modern history, defending our nation from a terrorist organization responsible for the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” the Israeli government stated, referencing the Hamas attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and led to the abduction of 251 others to Gaza.

ICC Allegations and Response

Hamas official Mohammed Deif, identified as a mastermind of the October 7 atrocities, faces accusations including murder, extermination, torture, rape, and hostage-taking. Israel claims to have eliminated Deif in September, though the ICC contends there is no definitive proof of his death.

Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant denounced the ICC’s move in a fiery statement on ‘X’:

“The ICC’s outrageous decision will live in infamy – it places the State of Israel and the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, in the same equation. Today’s decision legitimizes and rewards the murder, rape and kidnapping of Israeli children, women, and men. It also sets a dangerous precedent for democracies around the world in their fight against terrorism.”

Israeli Leaders Condemn ICC Decision

Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the ICC’s actions a “dark day for humanity,” accusing the tribunal of siding with terror over democracy.

“The decision has turned universal justice into a global laughingstock,” Herzog declared on X. “It overlooks the barbaric assault on Israel and our obligation to protect our citizens.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also condemned the ICC as a “political tool” aiding extremists and undermining stability in the Middle East. He warned that the warrants are an assault on Israel’s inherent right to defend itself and an affront to the most threatened nation in the world.

A Dangerous Precedent for Western Democracies

The ICC’s actions have reignited debate over its credibility, with critics pointing out its selective prosecution. Neither Israel nor the United States are signatories to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, raising serious questions about the tribunal’s jurisdiction in cases involving Israeli leaders.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) urged President-elect Donald Trump to act against the court in its next term. The congressman warned that the United States could be the court’s next victim:

“If we fail to fight this attack on Israel by the ICC, we’re admitting they have jurisdiction over the United States. The world must not view this as a legitimate exercise of the ICC’s authority, or we’ll be next.”

The ICC’s controversial ruling not only inflames tensions but also undermines its own credibility as Western democracies grapple with the potential fallout of an increasingly politicized judicial body.