Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that his country will not be swayed from its military operations by any potential rulings from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
There is growing apprehension in Israel regarding the possibility of the ICC issuing arrest warrants for senior government and military officials. The ICC is currently investigating a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7th and Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has lasted for seven months.
Following reports in Israeli media suggesting the imminent issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli officials, Foreign Minister Israel Katz instructed Israeli embassies to bolster their security measures, citing concerns about a perceived rise in anti-Semitic threats.
“We expect the ICC to refrain from issuing arrest warrants against senior Israeli political and security officials,” stated Katz, adding, “We will not yield to pressure and will continue our fight.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, stating that ICC rulings would not affect Israel’s operations but could set a dangerous precedent. Israeli authorities fear that Netanyahu and other top officials could be targeted for alleged violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza.
Israel’s repeated violations of international law have drawn condemnation. Notably, the International Court of Justice characterized Israel’s actions as “genocidal in character” and accused them of seeking the destruction of Palestinians in Gaza. The court cited evidence including the deaths of over 21,000 Palestinians and widespread food insecurity in Gaza. Since October 7th, the death toll in Gaza has reached 34,488.
In October, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan confirmed the court’s jurisdiction over potential war crimes committed by Israeli forces in Gaza. Khan pledged a thorough investigation into alleged crimes, emphasizing that those found guilty would be held to account.
