Israeli officials have strongly criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) for requesting arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The court also sought warrants for Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Dief.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich denounced the ICC's decision as hypocritical and anti-Semitic, comparing it to Nazi propaganda. National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for an intensified assault against Hamas, while former prime minister Naftali Bennett accused the ICC of supporting terrorists.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan stated that there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that Israeli officials are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza since October 2023. The charges against Israel include intentionally targeting civilians, using starvation as a war tactic, and other alleged war crimes. The Hamas leaders were also accused of crimes such as taking hostages, raping civilians, and torture.
The pursuit of arrest warrants against Israeli and Hamas leaders has sparked strong support for Israel among U.S. officials. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham criticized the ICC's decision, citing previous attempts by the court to bring charges against American soldiers in Afghanistan.
Overall, the ICC's request for arrest warrants has ignited a fierce debate between those who view it as a necessary step towards justice and accountability, and those who see it as a biased and politically motivated attack on Israel.