FALCON POWERS – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defiantly challenged on Monday the announcement made by the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan regarding the issuance of arrest warrants against him, his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and 3 Hamas leaders.
During a Likud party meeting, Netanyahu described the ICC Prosecutor’s decision as an “outrage.” He stated, “This announcement will not stop me, nor will it stop Israel” from the ongoing war against Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, while the Gaza Strip faces a blockade and shortages of food, water, and medicine.
Earlier on Monday, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced that he had requested the ICC to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant, as well as three Hamas leaders – Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ leader in Gaza, and Muhammad Deif, the commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing.
In his statement, Khan said he is seeking arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant on charges of committing crimes including “starvation, willful killing, and/or extermination.”
The Israeli opposition has condemned the ICC’s decision.
