Israeli Embassy rejects ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant

Santo Domingo.- The Israeli Embassy in the Dominican Republic firmly opposed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. In a press release, the embassy emphasized that Israel is not an ICC member and thus not under its jurisdiction. It criticized the decision for disregarding Israel’s legitimate right to defend its citizens following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, which sparked the current conflict.

The embassy accused the ICC of bias, highlighting the court’s failure to consider Hamas’s role in the escalation. It further stated that the accusations against Israeli leaders lack verified evidence and underscored Israel’s ongoing efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid in Gaza while minimizing civilian casualties. The statement blamed Hamas for obstructing these efforts by intercepting aid and using civilians as human shields.

Calling for the ICC decision to be rejected, the embassy stressed the disparity between Israel’s democratic values and Hamas’s extremist actions. It described the comparison as flawed, arguing that Israel seeks peaceful coexistence in the Middle East, while Hamas operates on hatred and radical ideologies.