Reaction to ICC warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders

These are reactions to the International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas commander Ibrahim al-Masri, who is believed to be dead.

The warrants are for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since then.

Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office: “Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions leveled against it by ICC,” the office said, calling the move antisemitic.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog: “The decision chose the side of terrorism and evil over democracy and freedom and turned the international justice system itself into a human shield for Hamas’ crimes against humanity.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar: “A dark moment for the International Criminal Court,” Saar said, saying the court had “lost all legitimacy” and adding that it had issued “absurd orders without authority.”

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid: “Israel defends its life against terrorist organizations that attacked, murdered and raped our citizens, these arrest warrants are a reward for terrorism.”

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett: “The ICC arrest warrants are a mark of shame not of Israel’s leaders but of the ICC itself, and its members.”

Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir: “The International Criminal Court in The Hague shows once again that it is antisemitic through and through.”

Palestinians

Hamas official statement: “We call on the International Criminal Court to expand the scope of accountability to all criminal occupation leaders.”

Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim: “This is an important step on the path to justice and bringing justice to the victims but it remains a limited and spiritual step if it is not backed practically by all countries.”

United States

The United States rejected a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense chief, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said.

“The United States fundamentally rejects the Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials. We remain deeply concerned by the Prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision,” the spokesperson said, adding the US is discussing next steps with its partners.

Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President-elect Trump said: “The Court is a dangerous joke. It is now time for the US Senate to act and sanction this irresponsible body.”

Congressman Mike Waltz, a former special forces officer, who Trump has named as his incoming national security advisor, also posted on X: “The ICC has no credibility and these allegations have been refuted by the [US] government. Israel has lawfully defended its people & borders from genocidal terrorists. You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC & UN come January.”

Europe

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the ICC warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant are not political and the court decision should be respected and implemented.

Netherlands Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp was cited by Dutch news agency ANP as saying the country was prepared to act on the arrest warrant against Netanyahu if needed.

France’s foreign ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine said the French reaction to the warrants would be “in line with ICC statutes” but declined to say whether France would arrest the leader if he came to the country.

“It’s a point that is legally complex,” he said.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said the warrants were a significant and serious step.

“The decision ... is an extremely significant step,” Harris said in a statement. “These charges could not be more serious.

“Ireland respects the role of the International Criminal Court. Anyone in a position to assist it in carrying out its vital work must now do so with urgency.”

Britain respects the independence of the International Criminal Court, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said on Thursday, after it issued the arrest warrants.

“We respect the independence of the International Criminal Court, which is the primary international institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern,” the spokesperson told reporters.

“There is no moral equivalence between Israel and democracy and Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, which are terrorist organizations. We remain focused on pushing for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to the devastating violence in Gaza.”

Middle East

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the ICC rulings should be respected and implemented, adding that “Palestinians deserve justice.”