Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back against war crimes accusations from the International Criminal Court (ICC), defending Israel’s humanitarian record in Gaza and accusing Hamas of exploiting civilians as human shields. He also praised the United States for sanctioning ICC officials, calling the move a defense of democratic nations.
Speaking on the recent arrest warrant request made by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan from 02:10, Netanyahu dismissed the charges against him and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as “a travesty of justice.” He argued that Israel has gone to great lengths to protect civilians in Gaza while continuing its fight against Hamas militants.
“Israel has let in more than 2 million tons of aid into Gaza. That’s one ton of aid per person. And by the way, Hamas stole much of it,” Netanyahu said, stressing that Israel has facilitated humanitarian relief despite ongoing hostilities.
He further highlighted efforts to warn noncombatants before military operations, including mass communication campaigns. “Israel has sent millions of texts and phone messages to Palestinian civilians urging them to get out of Khan’s way. Hamas shoots these civilians when they try to leave. And they do so in order to use the civilian population as human shields. That’s a war crime,” Netanyahu declared.
The prime minister framed the ICC’s actions as politically motivated, designed to delegitimize Israel’s right to self-defense. He maintained that the true violations of international law come from Hamas, not the Israeli military. “These arrest warrants and false charges against Israel are a travesty of justice,” he said.
Netanyahu also applauded Washington’s response to the ICC prosecutor. “That’s why President Trump and Secretary Rubio have issued sanctions on Karim Khan and the other corrupt ICC officials for their malign activities,” he said, thanking the United States for what he described as a principled stand against judicial overreach. “Thank you America for holding the ICC accountable because if Israel is prevented from fighting terrorism, no democracy is safe.”
The U.S. sanctions, imposed against Khan and other ICC officials, underscore Washington’s longstanding opposition to the court’s attempts to exercise jurisdiction over non-member states such as Israel and the United States. Both countries argue that their judicial systems are fully capable of investigating alleged misconduct by their own forces.
Reactions to the move have been mixed. Israeli officials hailed the sanctions as evidence of unwavering American support, while human rights organizations expressed concern that the measures undermine international accountability mechanisms. Critics warned that punishing ICC officials could weaken global efforts to address atrocities.
Despite the international controversy, Netanyahu reiterated his government’s determination to continue operations against Hamas. He argued that undermining Israel’s military campaign would not only endanger Israelis but also embolden extremist groups worldwide.
“We will not bow to false accusations,” he said. “Israel will continue to defend itself, and in doing so, defend the values of freedom and democracy against those who seek to destroy them.”
The ICC’s judges are expected to review Khan’s request for arrest warrants in the coming months. Their decision could have lasting implications for Israel’s international standing and for the broader debate on the role of global justice in conflict zones.
