The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Netanyahu condemned the ICC’s decision, calling it “anti-Semitic” and comparing it to the infamous Dreyfus trial. “The anti-Semitic decision of the International Criminal Court is comparable to the modern-day Dreyfus trial and it will end in the same way,” Netanyahu stated.
The Dreyfus trial was a notorious case of anti-Semitism in late 19th-century France. Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish military officer, was falsely convicted of treason in 1894 based on fabricated evidence. Publicly humiliated and sentenced to life imprisonment, his case sparked widespread controversy. Eventually, new evidence proved his innocence, but only after years of judicial and public battles exposing institutional anti-Semitism.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office strongly opposed the ICC’s move, asserting it was politically biased. In its statement, Israel justified its military actions as self-defense following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, which it called “the largest massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust.” Netanyahu vowed to continue military operations against Hamas and what he described as the “Iranian axis of terror.”
The United States also rejected the ICC’s decision. President Joe Biden called it “outrageous,” reiterating unwavering US support for Israel. Similarly, Argentina criticized the ruling, emphasizing Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself.
In contrast, European nations such as Spain, Sweden, and Italy stated they respect the ICC’s decision, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell calling it “a decision of justice, not politics.”
The ICC accuses Netanyahu and Gallant of crimes such as starvation as a method of warfare and targeting civilian populations. Although Israel and the US do not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, the court relies on its 124 member states under the Rome Statute to enforce its rulings.
The warrants raise questions about future travel risks for the accused, as member states are obligated to detain ICC targets. The court’s action reflects growing scrutiny of the Gaza war, though enforcement remains uncertain amidst geopolitical divisions.
