Israeli gov’t received indications ICC could issue arrest warrant for Netanyahu, ministers: Report
Israeli government has received indications from senior legal officials that the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor is considering issuing arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including PM Netanyahu, according to a report by Israel’s Channel 12.
The ICC is currently investigating Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
In addition to Netanyahu, these investigations could lead to arrest warrants being issued for Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.
The Israeli newspaper Maariv also reported that Netanyahu is “frightened and unusually stressed” by the possibility of an ICC arrest warrant. On Friday, Netanyahu posted on X that under his leadership, “Israel will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense”.
The ICC case is separate from several ongoing cases against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), including one brought by South Africa that alleges that Israel is committing the crime of genocide in its continuing war on Gaza.
The ICJ was created to resolve conflicts between states; the ICC prosecutes individuals for crimes.
‘Israel operates with full adherence to all laws of war’: Minister
An Israeli official has hit out at the International Criminal Court as news reports suggest it will soon issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and army chief Herzi Halevi
“There’s nothing more distorted than attempting to prevent Israel from defending itself against a murderous enemy openly calling for the destruction of the state of Israel,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz in a warning to diplomatic staff abroad.
“If the warrants are issued, they will harm IDF [Israel Defense Force] commanders and soldiers and encourage the Hamas terror organization and the radical Islamic axis led by Iran against whom we are fighting,” he added
“Israel operates with full adherence to all laws of war … accompanied by a robust and independent legal system, and provides extensive humanitarian aid to the population in Gaza in collaboration with international bodies, even though Hamas uses the population as human shields, attacks, and complicates the delivery of aid.”
Activists hold up a banner denouncing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the International Criminal Court in The Hague
Could Netanyahu also face arrest in Israel?
We have reported on the possible arrest warrant by the ICC for Israeli PM Netanyahu. Israel is not a member of the court and does not recognise its jurisdiction.
However, the embattled PM is currently in the midst of a domestic corruption trial in which he has been charged with fraud, bribery and breach of trust in three cases filed in 2019. If convicted in a bribery case, he could be sentenced to up to years in jail. Netanyahu has denied the charges and claimed that the indictments were part of a politically charged witch-hunt by rivals.
Netanyahu has been accused of using a controversial judicial overhaul plan – which has sparked more than a year of protests in Israel – to circumvent his legal troubles.
Lies, blackmail and threats is all Israel does
Israeli FM warns of ‘wave of severe antisemitism’ if ICC issues arrest warrants
Israel Katz, has “instructed all Israeli missions worldwide today [Sunday, April 28] to prepare immediately for a wave of severe antisemitism, anti-Jewish, and anti-Israeli outbreaks” in response to the possible ICC arrest warrants we reported on earlier.
“Due to the severity of the threat to Jewish communities abroad, Foreign Minister Katz also instructed to involve Jewish organizations abroad in the need to prepare for such events, including coordinating the enhancement of security around Jewish institutions with the authorities,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.
The ministry quoted Katz as saying, “We expect the court to prevent the issuance of arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials in the political and security echelons.”
Translation: Katz instructed all Israel mission worldwide today to launch a massive campaign accusing everyone that says anything about Israel, Palestine, Gaza, Genocide or advocating for peace as being anti-Semetic.
Actual antisemitism is on the rise because of your actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Essay Pro