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In a strong rebuttal to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) recent arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Embassy in Cyprus accused the court of undermining its own credibility and legitimacy.
The warrants, issued for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, have sparked a wave of international debate. The ICC claims that Netanyahu and Gallant are responsible for using starvation as a weapon of war by depriving Gaza’s civilians of essential resources like food, water, and medicine. However, the Israeli Embassy rejected the court’s decision outright, describing it as a "dark moment" that betrays the ICC's mission of justice.
In a statement released Thursday, the embassy argued that the warrants lack jurisdictional authority because Israel is not a member of the ICC. It also stressed that the warrants were not just an attack on the two Israeli leaders but on Israel’s fundamental right to defend itself against terrorism. The embassy further stated that the decision "equates those defending peace with those perpetuating violence," effectively rewarding terrorist organizations and undermining global stability.
"The decision represents a profound failure, turning justice on its head," the embassy’s statement read. "Such actions embolden forces of evil and undermine global stability."
Moreover, the Israeli Embassy claimed that the timing of the ICC's action hindered ongoing efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, arguing that it disregarded Israel's humanitarian aid initiatives in the region.
Asserting that Israel has a robust, independent legal system, the embassy emphasized that the country holds itself accountable through its own processes. It also rejected the notion that Israel needed external oversight from the ICC, which it accused of becoming a political tool instead of an impartial institution of justice.
The statement concluded with a call for a global response, urging "decent nations" and "every moral individual" to reject the ICC’s actions and reaffirm their commitment to genuine justice, peace, and the fight against terrorism.
This dramatic exchange highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the Gaza conflict, as the ICC steps deeper into a contentious political and legal arena where the fight for accountability is far from settled.
