Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly denied the International Criminal Court's (ICC) accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, blaming them for their involvement in Israel's military actions in Gaza.

Netanyahu criticises ICC ruling

In response, Netanyahu firmly stated that the ICC’s decision would not stop him from protecting Israel. "No outrageous anti-Israel decision will prevent us, and it will not prevent me, from continuing to defend our country in every way," he said in a video statement. "We will not yield to pressure," he added.

Calling the ICC’s move a "dark day in the history of nations," Netanyahu accused the court of abandoning its mission. "The International Criminal Court in The Hague, which was established to protect humanity, has today become the enemy of humanity," he said. He dismissed the accusations as "utterly baseless" and accused the ICC of ignoring what he called "real war crimes, horrific war crimes being committed against us and against many others around the world."

The ICC accused Netanyahu and Gallant of using starvation as a weapon during the war and committing other serious crimes, like murder and mistreating people.

The Gaza conflict started in October 2023 after Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli reports. In response, Israel launched military attacks on Gaza, leading to 44,056 deaths. Most of the people killed in Gaza were civilians, based on numbers from the Hamas-run health ministry, which the United Nations considers trustworthy.

The United Nations has warned that Gaza is facing a serious humanitarian crisis. There is not enough food or medical supplies, and this shortage could result in widespread hunger and suffering.

The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif, a leader of Hamas's military wing. Israel said it killed Deif in an airstrike in July, but Hamas has not confirmed this. Netanyahu made fun of the ICC's decision, saying it issued a warrant for "the body of Mohammed Deif."

Netanyahu stands strong, denies the accusations, and promises to continue protecting Israel.