Israeli occupation leaders issued statements, on Thursday, in response to the International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant.

According to an official statement, the office of Netanyahu dismissed the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants against him and his former Security Minister, labeling the move as "anti-Semitic".

Netanyahu’s office stated, "Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions leveled against it by ICC," asserting that the occupation government would not "give in to pressure."

Furthermore, the Israeli occupation's President Isaac Herzog accused the court of undermining justice, stating, "The decision chose the side of terrorism and evil over democracy and freedom and turned the international justice system itself into a human shield for Hamas' crimes against humanity."

In a similar tone, Israeli occupation Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the move, calling it "a dark moment for the International Criminal Court" and arguing that the court had "lost all legitimacy" by issuing "absurd orders without authority."

The warrants come as the death toll from the Israeli genocidal war against the Gaza Strip surpassed 43,985 martyrs over 412 days.

Remarks flooded Israeli media

While Israeli occupation officials have characterized the move by the ICC as politically and morally contentious, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the development, labeling it a "political failure".

Lapid quickly shifted blame from "Israel" pointing it toward Netanyahu and Gallant, as individuals, and claimed, "We began this war with global support, but the situation has shifted due to the government’s policies."

In turn, Benny Gantz, leader of the State Camp political party, expressed sharp disapproval of the ICC’s decision, describing it as "a moral blindness and a historical disgrace that will never be forgotten."

Moreover, Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir denounced the ICC’s move, referring to it as "an unparalleled disgrace," and asserted that the decision "is not surprising" and accused the court of harboring "anti-Semitic tendencies".

Unlike Lapid, Ben-Gvir reiterated his full support for Netanyahu, advocating for a robust response, including "applying sovereignty over all of Judea and Samaria (the occupied West Bank), expanding settlements, severing ties with the Palestinian Authority and imposing sanctions on it."

Similarly, former occupation Prime Minister Naftali Bennett offered a defiant rebuttal, stating, "Those who should feel ashamed are the court’s members, not Israel’s leaders."

Additionally, the occupation's Transportation Minister Miri Regev dismissed the arrest warrants as a "legal absurdity" and affirmed that "Israel will not back down."

ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant over war crimes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued on Thursday arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant on charges of "crimes against humanity and war crimes."

This marks a significant escalation in legal actions concerning the war on Gaza, obliging the ICC’s 124 member states to detain Netanyahu and Gallant should they enter their territory.

The court announced its unanimous rejection of "Israel's" appeal challenging the ICC’s jurisdiction. 

The ICC stated that there are "reasonable grounds" to believe Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare."

It also indicated that they "intentionally and knowingly deprived" Gaza’s civilian population of essential resources, including food, water, medical supplies, and fuel.

Read more: For fourth time US vetoes UNSC resolution advocating ceasefire in Gaza