Netanyahu says ICC warrant against him won’t stop Israel from defending itself

Netanyahu vows to defend Israel despite ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday (November 21, 2024) that an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court over his conduct of the Gaza war would not stop him defending Israel.

"No outrageous anti-Israel decision will prevent us — and it will not prevent me — from continuing to defend our country in every way," Mr. Netanyahu said in a video statement. "We will not yield to pressure," he vowed.

The premier is accused alongside his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant of "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity" for Israel's actions in Gaza.

He described Thursday's decision as a "dark day in the history of nations".

"The International Criminal Court in The Hague, which was established to protect humanity, has today become the enemy of humanity," he said, adding that the accusations were "utterly baseless".

The current Minister of Defence of the State, Israel Kaetz called the warrant a “moral disgrace”, and said that it “serves Iran, the head of the snake, and its proxies”.

President Isaac Herzog in a statement posted on X said the warrant “ignores the plight of the 101 Israeli hostages.” “The decision has chosen the side of terror and evil over democracy and freedom, and turned the very system of justice into a human shield for Hamas’ crimes against humanity,” he added.