Thu Nov 21 14:54:38 UTC 2024: ## Netanyahu Condemns ICC War Crimes Arrest Warrant as “Antisemitic”
**The Hague/Jerusalem** – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently denounced the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of an arrest warrant for him and other Israeli officials, calling the move “absurd and false” and accusing the court of antisemitism. The warrant, issued Thursday, also targets Netanyahu’s former defense minister and several Hamas officials, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict and October 2023 attacks on Israel.
Netanyahu’s office defended Israel’s military actions in Gaza as “the most just war Israel has ever waged,” vowing to continue operations until all its war aims are achieved. The Israeli government rejected the ICC’s authority and declared it would not yield to international pressure. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar echoed this sentiment, declaring the ICC had “lost all legitimacy.”
The arrest warrant renders Netanyahu and others internationally wanted, potentially hindering ceasefire negotiations. While Hamas welcomed the ICC’s decision, calling for broader accountability, the United States also criticized the ICC prosecutor, reiterating support for Israel’s right to self-defense. The contrasting reactions highlight the deeply divisive nature of the conflict and the international legal complexities surrounding it.
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