Netanyahu Calls ICC Warrants ‘Modern Dreyfus Trial’

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu strongly criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday following its decision to issue arrest warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The ICC accused Netanyahu and Gallant of war crimes, specifically using starvation as a method of warfare, along with crimes against humanity such as murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts during Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. This comes in the wake of Hamas’ deadly attack on October 7, 2023, backed by Iran.

Both Netanyahu and Gallant are now considered international fugitives. Although neither Israel nor the U.S. are members of the ICC, reports indicate that countries like the European Union, France, and Ireland have stated they would enforce the warrants.

In a video posted on his X account, Netanyahu denounced the ICC’s actions as “antisemitic.” “The antisemitic decision of the International Criminal Court is a modern Dreyfus trial — and it will end the same way,” he declared.

Netanyahu’s comparison referenced the wrongful conviction of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish French officer falsely accused of treason in 1896. Dreyfus was eventually cleared in 1906, a landmark case highlighting antisemitism in the legal system.

Continuing his statement, Netanyahu said, “Now, an international court in The Hague — also headed by a French judge — is repeating this outrageous offense. It is falsely accusing me, the democratically elected prime minister of the state of Israel, and Israel’s former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, of deliberately targeting civilians — this, when we do everything in our power to avoid civilian casualties.”

Netanyahu also took aim at ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, who has faced allegations of misconduct. Although colleagues at the ICC were informed of the allegations, the woman did not file an official complaint, and Khan denied the accusations.

“The decision to issue an arrest warrant against me, the democratically elected prime minister of the state of Israel, and our former defense minister was made by a rogue prosecutor who is trying to extricate himself from harassment charges and by biased judges who are motivated by antisemitic sentiments against the one and only Jewish state,” Netanyahu stated. “These judges did nothing — they did nothing — against the real war crimes committed against the millions who have been murdered or uprooted by the dictatorships in Iran, Syria, and Yemen.”

He also criticized the court for its lack of action against Hamas. “Instead, they falsely accuse the one democracy in the Middle East, Israel, thereby imperiling the right of all democracies to defend themselves against murderous terrorists and tyrants. Nor did the court do anything against the Hamas terrorists who raped our women, beheaded our men, burned babies alive in front of their parents, and kidnapped hundreds of men, women, and children to the underground dungeons of Gaza. They’re still holding 101 hostages — citizens of many lands, including the United States.”

Netanyahu pointed out the irony of the ICC’s sole warrant against a Hamas figure, Mohammed Deif, a senior commander whom Israel claimed to have killed in August. The ICC stated that it could not confirm Deif’s death.

“Come to think of it, the court did issue one arrest warrant against Hamas,” Netanyahu remarked. “Now hear this. They issued an arrest warrant against the corpse of the Hamas arch-terrorist Mohammed Deif. His corpse. What an absurdity.”

Netanyahu concluded his statement with a resolute message, rejecting the ICC’s authority and thanking allies. “No biased anti-Israel decision in The Hague will prevent the state of Israel from defending its citizens. I want to thank our many friends around the world, especially those in the United States, who have condemned this outrage and who have said this decision will have severe consequences for the ICC and those who cooperate with its decision.”

{Matzav.com}