Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Monday after a court prosecutor applied for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant, and Hamas leaders on charges of “war.” It called on “decent states” to stop funding the International Criminal Court (ICC). crime. ”
Prosecutor Karim Khan said the prosecutor’s office had collected evidence that gave him “reasonable grounds” to believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Palestinian territories.” said.
Khan said these alleged crimes include “starvation of civilians as a means of war” and “deliberate attacks against civilians.”
He said he was also seeking arrest warrants for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, political leader Ismail Haniyeh, and military commander Mohamed Deif.
Amal Clooney played key role in ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas leaders
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at a “Bring Back” rally in support of Israeli hostages outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on April 7, 2024. (Noam Garay/Getty Images)
Bennett said the prosecutor’s request was a “shameful moment for the ICC and the world community” and a “major boost to global jihadist terrorism.”
“An ICC that compares perpetrators of deliberate murder who rape women and burn babies with those who protect themselves would be better off without one,” Bennett said. “It’s time for decent countries to stop funding the ICC.”
He added the hashtag “DefundTheICC.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders condemned the move as disgraceful and anti-Semitic. US President Joe Biden also condemned the prosecutors and supported Israel’s right to protect it from Hamas.
A three-judge panel will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant and allow the case to proceed. It typically takes a judge two months to make such a decision.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Israel is not a member of the court, so even if an arrest warrant is issued, Netanyahu and Gallant will not be at immediate risk of prosecution. But the threat of arrest could make it difficult for Israeli leaders to travel abroad.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
