Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently denounced the International Criminal Court’s intention to issue arrest warrants against him, accusing the court of attempting to “demonize” Israel.
The ICC disclosed on Monday that Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant are the two Israeli officials facing potential arrest warrants. An ICC prosecutor has accused Israel of denying water to Hamas militants and Gaza residents, a claim Netanyahu labeled as “absurd.”
“We are currently supplying almost half of Gaza’s water,” Netanyahu stated on ABC’s Good Morning America. “Before the conflict, we provided only 7%. This completely contradicts the accusation. He is suggesting we’re starving people? We have delivered half a million tons of food and medicine using 20,000 trucks. This prosecutor aims to demonize Israel, conducting a smear campaign.”
The ICC’s announcement also mentioned plans to issue arrest warrants against Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Mohammed Deif, the head of its military wing, and Ismail Haniyeh, the head of its political bureau. Netanyahu criticized these moves, likening them to a hypothetical situation where the ICC would have issued arrest warrants against President George Bush and Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The Israeli prime minister further accused the ICC’s prosecutor of exacerbating “the fires of antisemitism.”
“He is targeting the world’s only Jewish state and attempting to restrict our lawful actions under the laws of war, which we adhere to,” Netanyahu said. “He falsely claims we do not comply. He is creating a misleading narrative and doing a serious disservice to the international court.”
Discussing post-war plans, Netanyahu outlined objectives such as demilitarizing Gaza, establishing a civilian administration unaffiliated with the terrorist group, and reconstructing Gaza “peacefully.”
President Joe Biden also condemned the ICC’s arrest warrant plans, calling them “outrageous” and insisting that “there is no equivalence” between Israel and Hamas. He reassured that the United States would continue supporting Israel against any threats the nation faces.
