Yoav Gallant: ICC prosecutor trying to deny Israeli right to self-defense

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday described a request by the International Criminal Court prosecutor for arrest warrants against him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "disgraceful" bid to interfere in the Gaza war.

In an official statement, Gallant criticized the warrant, saying, "Since October 7th, the State of Israel [has been] fighting against a brutal terrorist organization, Hamas - an enemy that conducted atrocities against Israeli children, women, and men. Now, it also uses its own people as human shields."

He also spoke of Israel's and the IDF's adherence to international law and efforts to provide increased humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip. 

Additionally, Gallant spoke of his role as Defense Minister, saying, "I stand with, support, and commend our troops, who are defending our people and fulfilling the extraordinary privilege and obligation of defending ourselves, by ourselves." 

הניסיון של תובע בית הדין הפלילי הבינ"ל קארים חאן להפוך את היוצרות לא יצלח - ההקבלה של התובע בין ארגון הטרור חמאס למדינת ישראל היא בזויה ומעוררת שאט נפש. מדינת ישראל אינה צד לביה"ד ולא מכירה בסמכותו.

— יואב גלנט - Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) May 21, 2024

Gallant criticizes ICC prosecutor Karim Khan 

Along with the official statement from his office, Gallant said in a post on X that "The attempt by Prosecutor Karim Khan to deny the State of Israel the right to self-defense and to free its hostages must be rejected out of hand."

"The parallel that the Prosecutor draws between the terrorist organization Hamas and the State of Israel is despicable and abhorrent," the statement added. "The State of Israel is not a party to the High Court and does not recognize its authority." 

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, in his statement announcing the application for arrest warrants on Monday, stressed Israel had the right to defend its population.

"That right, however, does not absolve Israel or any state of its obligation to comply with international humanitarian law," he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.