JERUSALEM, Israel – Israel announced plans to appeal arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The government also requested a suspension of the warrants pending the appeal, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office on Wednesday.
The ICC issued the warrants last week, alleging Netanyahu and Gallant committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The operation followed a devastating October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead.
Netanyahu condemned the ICC’s actions as politically motivated, accusing the court of anti-Semitism and insisting the charges would not deter Israel from its efforts to protect its citizens.
“The State of Israel challenges the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and the legitimacy of the arrest warrants,” his office said.
The ICC’s decision drew sharp criticism from Israeli leaders across the political spectrum.
The statement from Netanyahu’s office suggested that rejection of the appeal would only further highlight the court’s alleged bias against Israel.
The warrants accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of “criminal responsibility” for war crimes, including the use of starvation as a weapon and crimes against humanity such as murder, persecution, and inhumane acts.
Israel has long disputed the ICC’s authority to investigate actions in the Palestinian territories, arguing that it is not a member state of the court and does not recognize its jurisdiction.
In a related move, the ICC also issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, the Hamas military leader reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza earlier this year. Hamas has not confirmed Deif’s death.
The government also requested a suspension of the warrants pending the appeal, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office on Wednesday.
The ICC issued the warrants last week, alleging Netanyahu and Gallant committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The operation followed a devastating October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead.
Netanyahu condemned the ICC’s actions as politically motivated, accusing the court of anti-Semitism and insisting the charges would not deter Israel from its efforts to protect its citizens.
“The State of Israel challenges the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and the legitimacy of the arrest warrants,” his office said.
The ICC’s decision drew sharp criticism from Israeli leaders across the political spectrum.
The statement from Netanyahu’s office suggested that rejection of the appeal would only further highlight the court’s alleged bias against Israel.
The warrants accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of “criminal responsibility” for war crimes, including the use of starvation as a weapon and crimes against humanity such as murder, persecution, and inhumane acts.
Israel has long disputed the ICC’s authority to investigate actions in the Palestinian territories, arguing that it is not a member state of the court and does not recognize its jurisdiction.
In a related move, the ICC also issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, the Hamas military leader reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza earlier this year. Hamas has not confirmed Deif’s death.
