Israeli officials have rebuked the International Criminal Court’s announcement that it is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders for the ongoing conflict.
The ICC announced on Monday that it intends to pursue arrest warrants against Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, Mohammad Deif, the head of the military, and Ismail Haniyeh, the head of their political bureau, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz called the decision “outrageous” in a statement, adding, “I have instructed the immediate establishment of a special command center at the Foreign Ministry, with all professional entities, aimed at fighting against the decision intended primarily to shackle Israel’s hands and prevent it from exercising its right to self-defense.”
The minister expressed dismay at the court’s decision to announce the intention to seek warrants against Hamas and Israeli leaders “in the same breath.”
“While Hamas murderers and rapists commit crimes against humanity agai …