Israel tells ICC request for arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant is illegitimate

The Foreign Ministry says Israel has filed an official petition with the International Criminal Court challenging potential arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has called on the court to issue arrest warrants he requested in May for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas leaders, accusing them all of possible war crimes.

The ministry says it is both questioning the court’s jurisdiction in the matter, as well as asserting that Khan contravened the rules of the court and failed to offer Israel the opportunity to investigate the claims itself.

“There is no other democracy with an independent and well-regarded justice system such as Israel that has faced such discriminatory treatment by the prosecutor,” ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein says.

“Israel remains committed to the rule of law and to justice, and will continue to defend its citizens from the ongoing attacks and atrocities of Hamas as well as Iran’s other terrorist arms, in accordance with international law.”