Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, declared on Friday that his government will never recognize the authority of the International Criminal Court (ICC). He accused the ICC of attempting to undermine Israel’s right to self-defense by potentially ordering the arrest of Israeli soldiers and ministers.
Netanyahu stated that the threat against IDF soldiers and public figures in Israel, which is a democracy in the Middle East and the only Jewish state in the world, is unacceptable. He emphasized that Israel will continue to defend itself in its war against terrorists who seek to destroy it.
Israeli media reported last week that Netanyahu’s cabinet convened an emergency meeting in response to the possibility of the ICC launching an investigation and issuing arrest warrants against Israeli soldiers and ministers for alleged violations of international law in Gaza. Netanyahu reiterated his government’s stance on defending Israel’s actions and denounced the ICC’s interference in its affairs.
In a message posted on his Telegram account, Netanyahu emphasized that ICC decisions would not impact Israel’s actions but they could set a dangerous precedent for other democracies fighting terrorism and aggression worldwide.
