Israeli President Isaac Herzog believes that the threat of arrest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) could lead to the collapse of the global judicial system. He called on leaders of the free world to condemn this decision and support Israel.
“The statement by the ICC prosecutor is more than outrageous and demonstrates that the international judicial system is at risk of collapse,” Herzog wrote on social media X. “We expect all leaders of the free world to explicitly condemn this step and decisively reject it,” he added.
Israel considers the possible issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant as a “shameful” and “hypocritical” move, as reported by Channel 13 Israeli TV citing sources close to the Prime Minister.
“If this decision is implemented, it will be a disgrace on a global scale. There are no limits to hypocrisy,” journalists quote sources close to Netanyahu. Israeli officials are currently holding urgent consultations on this issue, but Netanyahu and Galant have not commented on the situation.
Israel’s Minister of Defense in the security cabinet, Benny Gantz, called the possible issuance of arrest warrants a “historic crime.” He believes that Israel is fighting the “most just war”, initiated in response to the massacre on October 7, 2023, and adheres to international law.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the possible issuance of arrest warrants a “political and moral catastrophe.” He believes that this has become possible due to Netanyahu’s failed policies and called for not remaining silent.
The ICC prosecutor demands the issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Galant, and three leaders of Hamas for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip and on Israeli territory. Israel does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, but Palestine is a member of the ICC and ratified the Rome Statute in 2015.
