"Israeli" officials' responses to ICC warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant

The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Thursday that it has issued arrest warrants for "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

In its statement, the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed that it unanimously rejected appeals submitted by "Israel" under Articles 18 and 19 of the Rome Statute. This decision paves the way for the issuance of the warrants.

 - Reactions of several "Israeli" officials -

Netanyahu: Anti-Semitic motivations

The office of the "Israeli" Prime Minister issued a statement following the ICC's decision.

The office labeled the court’s actions as anti-Semitic, comparing them to the infamous Dreyfus trial, and declared that the decision was politically motivated.

In the press statement, the office described the ICC as a “biased and discriminatory political body,” accusing it of issuing “false and absurd charges.” The office maintains that "Israel’s" military operations in Gaza are a legitimate response to "terrorism", making any charges against "Israeli" leaders unjust.

“The war Israel has been waging since October 7th is the most just of any war,” the statement reads. It asserts that Hamas is responsible for one of the worst attacks against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, justifying "Israel’s" military actions as a necessary defense of its citizens.

Netanyahu's office also targeted ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, accusing him of corruption and bias.

It claims Khan is attempting to avoid allegations of sexual harassment, citing his decision to cancel a planned trip to "Israel" in May 2023, shortly after the accusations surfaced.

Despite the ICC’s actions, Netanyahu's office maintains that the country will not be deterred from its mission to protect its citizens. The statement also emphasized that Netanyahu will not yield to international pressure, reaffirming that "Israel" will continue its operations in Gaza.

Ben-Gvir: An unprecedented disgrace

"Israeli" National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sharply criticized the ICC’s move, calling it “an unprecedented disgrace” and “but not at all surprising.”

“The International Criminal Court in The Hague shows once again that it is anti-Semitic through and through," Ben-Gvir posted on X. "This is complete system madness. I support the Prime Minister in the just war. The answer to the arrest warrants - applying sovereignty over all the territories of Judea and Samaria, settlement in all parts of the country and severing ties with the terrorist authority, including sanctions.”

הוצאת צווי המעצר נגד ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו וח״כ גלנט היא חרפה שאין כדוגמתה, אך כלל לא מפתיעה.

בית הדין הפלילי הבינלאומי בהאג מראה שוב כי הוא אנטישמי מתחילתו ועד סופו. זהו טירוף מערכות מוחלט. אני מחזק את ראש הממשלה במלחמה הצודקת.

התשובה לצווי המעצר - החלת ריבונות על כל שטחי…

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) November 21, 2024

Ohana: A dark day for justice

Knesset member Amir Ohana condemned the decision, describing it as a direct attack on "Israel’s" democratic leaders and its right to self-defense.

Targeting the democratically elected leaders of Israel, the Middle East’s only democracy and the world’s only Jewish state, is nothing short of an assault on justice, truth, and the universal right of self-defense.

This decision marks a dark day in the history of international…

— Amir Ohana - אמיר אוחנה (@AmirOhana) November 21, 2024

“This decision marks a dark day in the history of international law. Rather than upholding the principles of justice, the ICC has chosen to politicize its mandate, turning itself into a tool of terrorists and those who seek to delegitimize Israel’s right to exist and defend its citizens from genocidal terror,” Ohana posted on X.

Sa’ar: A political tool

"Israeli" Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the ICC’s decision “a black mark” on its reputation, accusing it of acting as a political instrument for extreme factions.

A dark moment for the International Criminal ״Court״ (ICC) in The Hague, in which it lost all legitimacy for its existence and activity. It acted as a political tool in the service of the most extreme terrorists working to undermine peace, security, and stability in the Middle…

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) November 21, 2024

“The Hague... lost all legitimacy for its existence and activity,” Sa’ar said.

Lapid: Rewarding terrorism

Opposition leader Yair Lapid also denounced the ICC’s decision, framing it as a dangerous incentive for terrorism.

מגנה את החלטת בית הדין בהאג, ישראל מגינה על חייה מול ארגוני טרור שתקפו, רצחו ואנסו את אזרחינו, צווי המעצר האלה הם פרס לטרור

— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) November 21, 2024

“Israel defends its life against terrorist organizations that attacked, murdered, and raped our citizens,” Lapid stated. “These arrest warrants are a reward for terrorism.”

Gantz: A moral failure

Benny Gantz, head of the National Unity Party and a former ally of Netanyahu during the war, called the ICC’s move a grave error.

The ICC’s decision - moral blindness and shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten.

— בני גנץ - Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) November 21, 2024

“The ICC’s decision - moral blindness and shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten,” Gantz declared.