The International Criminal Court has dismissed appeals from Israel and has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has dismissed objections raised by Israel and has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday.
The ICC has charged both Netanyahu and Gallant with "crimes against humanity and war crimes," which include the use of starvation as a tactic of warfare and the targeting of civilians. In response, Israeli President Isaac Herzog criticized the decision in a statement released on Thursday.
Herzog stated, "This outrageous decision by the ICC, taken in bad faith, has transformed the concept of universal justice into a source of ridicule. It undermines the sacrifices made by those who have fought for justice, from the Allied victory over the Nazis to the present day."
He further contended that the ICC's ruling overlooks Hamas' employment of human shields and the terror attacks on October 7, 2023, which initiated the conflict, as well as the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
"Ultimately, this decision aligns itself with terror and malevolence rather than democracy and freedom, effectively using the justice system as a shield for Hamas’ crimes against humanity," he remarked. "This cynical manipulation of international legal frameworks highlights the urgent need for genuine moral clarity in confronting an Iranian empire of evil that aims to destabilize our region and the world, while undermining the very institutions of the free world."
Israel has made multiple attempts to prevent the ICC from endorsing the arrest warrants. Initially, they claimed that the ICC lacked jurisdiction over Israel; however, the court maintained that it could issue the warrants under the "territorial jurisdiction of Palestine."
Additionally, Israel presented other procedural objections, all of which were dismissed.
The ICC's decision comes shortly after Senate Majority Leader-elect John Thune issued a warning regarding potential sanctions if the court proceeded with the arrest warrants.
Thune, who was appointed last week to assume the role of Senate majority leader when the GOP gains control of the upper chamber in January 2025, cautioned that he would take action against the international court if the current Democratic leadership fails to do so.
"If the ICC and its prosecutor do not retract their egregious and unlawful efforts to pursue arrest warrants against Israeli officials, the Senate should promptly enact sanctions legislation, as the House has already done with bipartisan support," Thune stated on X. "Should Majority Leader Schumer remain inactive, the Senate Republican majority will align with our crucial ally Israel and prioritize this and other supportive measures in the upcoming Congress."
The United States does not formally acknowledge the ICC's jurisdiction; however, this is not the first instance in which Washington has sought to impede the court's proceedings.
In 2020, the Trump administration opposed the ICC's attempts to investigate U.S. military personnel and CIA operatives accused of war crimes in alleged secret detention facilities in Afghanistan during 2003-2004, subsequently imposing sanctions on ICC prosecutors.
The Biden administration reversed those sanctions shortly after taking office.