Israel plans to continue its military objectives in Gaza, which include the return of captives and the eradication of Hamas, despite a request from the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on allegations of war crimes.
Tel Aviv strongly condemned the ICC Prosecutor’s request, describing it as “a historic stain.”
Israeli Foreign Minister, Yisrael Katz, stated that the Prosecutor equates the PM and Defense Minister of Israel with the detestable Nazi beasts of Hamas, marking a historic stain that will remain in memory forever.
He added, “No force on earth will prevent us from returning the detainees and eliminating Hamas.”
The ICC’s Chief Prosecutor, Karim Khan, has formally requested the issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, citing “reasonable grounds to believe” that the Israeli Prime Minister bears criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In an interview with CNN, Khan outlined the charges against Netanyahu and Gallant, which include “causing genocide, causing famine as a method of warfare, including blocking humanitarian aid supplies, and deliberately targeting civilians in the conflict.”
In response, Israel has denied committing war crimes in its military campaign launched in Gaza following an attack by Hamas on October 7.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that more than 35,562 Palestinians have been killed and 79,652 injured in the ongoing Israeli military assault on the territory since October 7.
The ministry also noted that 116 Palestinians were killed and 176 injured in the past 24 hours alone.
This development comes amid an intensifying conflict and highlights the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza as the world closely watches the unfolding legal and diplomatic repercussions.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has highlighted the necessity of reopening land crossings as the most feasible and efficient method for delivering aid to the Gaza Strip.
