Report: Israel Gov’t Holds Emergency Meetings as ICC Mulls Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Others

Israel is reportedly facing the prospect of arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stemming from investigations into Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Despite Israel’s refusal to recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, the court maintains it has the authority to examine alleged violations of international law by Israeli forces.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported over the weekend that the Prime Minister’s Office held emergency discussions several weeks ago regarding the potential issuance of arrest warrants. According to the report, ministers Ron Dermer, Yariv Levin, and Israel Katz attended this meeting to discuss strategies to counteract the anticipated ICC decisions, but efforts to influence key international figures allegedly fell short.

Netanyahu posted the following statement to his X account on Friday: “Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense. The threat to seize the soldiers and officials of the Middle East’s only democracy and the world’s only Jewish state is outrageous. We will not bow to it.”

“Israel will continue to wage to victory our just war against genocidal terrorists, and we will never stop defending ourselves,” he continued. “Whereas decisions of the court in the Hague will not affect Israel’s actions, they would be a dangerous precedent threatening the soldiers and officials of any democracy fighting criminal terrorism and aggression.”