BENJAMIN Netanyahu has labelled the International Criminal Court (ICC) “antisemitic” after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
US president Joe Biden has also called the decision “outrageous” after a warrant was also issued for former defence minister Yoav Gallant and a Hamas commander, Mohammed Deif – who Israel says was killed in July.
Judges have said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe the three men bore “criminal responsibility” for war crimes.
In a statement on Thursday, Netanyahu said: “The antisemitic decision of the international court in The Hague is a modern Dreyfus trial, and it will end the same way.”
The Israeli prime minister (below) was referring to a high-profile case of antisemitism which took place in France just over a century ago.
He added: “The court in The Hague accuses us of a deliberate policy of starvation. This when we have supplied Gaza with 700,000 tons of food to feed the people of Gaza.
“We issue millions of text messages, phone calls, leaflets to the citizens of Gaza to get them out of harm’s way – while the Hamas terrorists do everything in their power to keep them in harm’s way, including shooting them, using them as human shields.”
He further said Israel would “not recognise the validity” of the ICC’s decision.
The impact of the warrants announced will depend on the response of the court’s 124 member states – which includes the UK but does not include Israel or its ally the US.
When asked if the UK Government would uphold these obligations or end weapons exports to Israel, a spokesperson did not respond.
The statement said: “We respect the independence of the ICC which is the primary international institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern.
“This government has been clear that Israel has a right to defend itself, in accordance with international law.
“There is no moral equivalence between Israel, a democracy, and Hamas and Lebanese Hizballah, which are terrorist organisations.
“We remain focused on pushing for an immediate ceasefire, to bring an end to the devastating violence in Gaza.
“This is essential to protect civilians, ensure the release of hostages and to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
In a statement, Biden said: “Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas.
“We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”
