In a fiery rebuke, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Worldwide Felony Court docket (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan after he issued an arrest warrant in opposition to him and his Protection Minister Yoav Galant.
Netanyahu defended Israel’s army motion in opposition to Hamas, calling the ICC’s motion a “ethical outrage,” which he described as a professional response to an unprecedented terrorist assault.
The Worldwide Felony Court docket on Monday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Galant.
“Based mostly on the proof collected and examined by my workplace, I’ve affordable grounds to consider Benjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of Israel and Yav GALLANTIsrael’s Minister of Protection shall bear prison accountability for the next struggle crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity dedicated within the territory of the State of Palestine (within the Gaza Strip) from no less than 8 October 2023:
- Hunger of civilians as a way of struggle constitutes a struggle crime opposite to Article 8(2)(b)(xxv) of the Statute;
- 8(2)(a)(iii) deliberately inflicting nice ache, or critical damage to physique or well being, or committing merciless remedy as a struggle crime opposite to Article 8(2)(c)(i);
- willful killing opposite to Article 8(2)(a)(i), or killing as a struggle crime opposite to Article 8(2)(c)(i);
- 8(2)(b)(i), or 8(2)(e)(i) prescribing intentional assaults in opposition to civilian populations as struggle crimes;
- Extermination and/or killing opposite to Articles 7(1)(b) and seven(1)(a), together with hunger as against the law in opposition to humanity;
- Persecution as against the law in opposition to humanity opposite to Article 7(1)(h);
- Different inhumane acts as crimes in opposition to humanity opposite to Article 7(1)(okay).”
In a video assertion launched Monday, Netanyahu condemned ICC prosecutor Karim Khan for a direct assault on the sovereignty of the democratically elected authorities of Israel.
“The ICC prosecutor’s outrageous choice to focus on Israel’s leaders will depart an indelible mark on the worldwide courtroom,” Netanyahu stated.
He emphasised that Israel is engaged in a professional struggle in opposition to Hamas, a genocidal terrorist group chargeable for the horrific assault on the Jewish individuals on October seventh.
Netanyahu drew sharp parallels between the ICC’s actions and historic injustices, evaluating warrants in opposition to Israeli leaders to the presumed ethical equivalence between US President George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden after 9/11, or between FDR and Hitler throughout World Battle II. “What a travesty of justice, what a shame,” he added.
He additional criticized Khan’s transfer to undermine the elemental proper of democracies to defend themselves in opposition to terrorism and aggression, saying the costs in opposition to him and Gallant had been an try and strip Israel of its proper to self-defense.
“Eighty years in the past, the Jewish individuals had been defenseless in opposition to our enemies. These days are over. We have now a state, and we have now a military,” Netanyahu stated.
Netanyahu accused the ICC and its prosecutor of fueling world anti-Semitism and in contrast Khan’s actions to Nazi-era German judges who helped perform atrocities in opposition to Jews. “Mr. Khan’s choice ranks him among the many most infamous anti-Semites of contemporary instances,” he added.
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ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan’s outrageous choice to hunt arrest warrants in opposition to Israel’s democratically elected leaders is an ethical outrage of historic proportions.
It would forged an everlasting mark of disgrace on the Worldwide Court docket of Justice. pic.twitter.com/NJKYv06fyE
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) May 20, 2024
The USA “basically rejects” the ICC’s choice to hunt arrest warrants for senior Israeli officers.
JUST IN – US “basically rejects” ICC transfer to use for arrest warrants for senior Israeli officers.
— Disclose.television (@disclosetv) May 20, 2024
Gateway Pundit beforehand reported {that a} group of Republican senators together with Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Pete Ricketts (R-TX) . NE), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Invoice Haggerty (R-TN), Marco Rubio (R-FL ) ), and Tim Scott (R-SC), wrote a threatening letter to the ICC’s chief prosecutor.
They argue that the ICC’s actions will illegitimately punish Israel for defending itself in opposition to Iranian-backed aggression and can falsely painting Israel’s army response as tantamount to Hamas terrorism.
The letter expressly threatened extreme sanctions in opposition to Khan and the ICC, together with the termination of all American help, if warrants had been issued.
“The USA won’t tolerate the ICC’s political assaults on our allies. Goal Israel and we are going to goal you. When you proceed with the measures outlined within the report, we are going to transfer to finish all American help for the ICC, sanction your staff and associates, and ban you and your loved ones from the US. You have got been warned,” the letter concluded.
