The President of Israel, alongside other distinguished political figures, has expressed condemnation towards the International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
President Isaac Herzog characterized the decision as "absurd," while former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett described it as a "mark of shame" for the court.
Israel's primary opposition leader, Yair Lapid, also voiced his disapproval, labeling the move as "a reward for terrorism."
The International Criminal Court has cited evidence of "intentional and knowing" actions by Netanyahu and Gallant, accusing them of depriving the civilian population of Gaza of essential resources for survival, including food, water, medicine, and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.
This statement was made by a three-judge panel following a unanimous decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and officials from Hamas.
They have been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity in relation to the conflict in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamas's attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, the majority of whom were civilians.
The issuance of these arrest warrants places Netanyahu and the others on the list of internationally wanted suspects, yet it is unlikely that they will face trial at the ICC in the near future. The court depends on the cooperation of its member states, which include neither Israel nor its ally, the United States, to facilitate the process of bringing individuals to trial.
The International Criminal Court only prosecutes cases when law enforcement authorities in a country are unable or unwilling to do so themselves.
