Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has strongly condemned it. The latest arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it is not doing justice to the situation. Addressing Iran’s Basij paramilitary force, Khamenei called for a “death sentence” for Netanyahu over charges related to Israel’s military aggression in Gaza.
Iran’s Supreme Leader: ICC Issues Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu
A war crimes arrest warrant was issued by the ICC against Netanyahu and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant, who allegedly used starvation as a weapon and targeted Gazan civilians intentionally. In a statement, judges said there were “reasonable grounds” to hold both leaders criminally responsible for war crimes.
In theory, this would prevent Netanyahu from traveling abroad. As any one of the ICC’s 124 member states would be legally bound to apprehend him if he entered their jurisdiction. The ICC can only mete out life sentences in exceptional circumstances and cannot issue capital punishment, which Khamenei insisted should be the proper sanction against Netanyahu.
Iran’s Supreme Leader: Khamenei on ICC Action
Khamenei dismissed the actions taken by the ICC officials as insufficient and called on them to be harsher. He spoke to the Basij paramilitary force in Tehran, saying, “They issued an arrest warrant for him; it’s not enough. The death sentence of these criminal leaders should be issued.”
He pinned the war crimes perpetrated by Netanyahu over the protracted operations of the military of Israel in Gaza. Stating that “This is not a victory but a war crime.” Iran, which has always condemned the actions of Israel. Regards itself as a strong ally for the resistance groups fighting with Palestinians, such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Iran’s Support of Regional Armed Groups
Iran has always been infamous for its relations with militant movements in the entire Middle East, particularly Hamas, whose operations against Israel on October 7, 2023, reignited the current conflicts. Iran also supports Hezbollah, with whom Israeli forces have been at war for months now.
Although Iran does not play a role in the war itself, Khamenei once again proved his long-held opinion for many years: the “Zionist regime” will soon disappear from earth.
Iran’s Supreme Leader: International Reaction and Legal Consequences
The judgment places immense pressure on Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders; The ICC head prosecutor, Karim Khan has urged the ICC member countries to enforce the warrants issued and he has approached the non-member countries urging them to adhere to international law.
However, how such warrants would be implemented in practice is as yet not known since neither Israel nor Iran accepts the ICC. Besides, other super powers like the United States and China are also not members of the ICC, and therefore make the court’s jurisdiction and enforcement machinery considerably more complicated.
Iran’s Supreme Leader: Broader Regional Implications
Khamenei’s remarks underscore the heightened tensions in the Middle East. Where the Gaza conflict has escalated into a broader regional crisis. Iran’s explicit calls for Netanyahu’s execution mark a significant escalation in its rhetoric against Israel. Potentially influencing the strategies of armed groups aligned with Tehran.
International criticism of both the Israeli and Palestinian forces intensifies. As the war rages on, calling for accountability from different global organizations and leaders.
FAQs
1. What is the content of the ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu?
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for allegedly leading wars with hunger as a weapon and targeting civilians during the Gaza war.
2. Why is Ayatollah Khamenei calling for the death penalty against Netanyahu?
Khamenei believes that the ICC has not done enough, and he argues that Netanyahu’s alleged war crimes in Gaza. His crimes have to be compensated for by putting Netanyahu to death by hanging, something the ICC cannot do.
3. What is Iran doing in the fight over Gaza?
Iran supports the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Though it does not dare to challenge the battlefields, it is known to offer financial and logistic support to such armed groups.
4. How does the ICC execute arrest warrants?
The ICC relies on its 124 member states for enforcing an arrest warrant. Things become extremely challenging when the accused resides in or travels to a non-member state like Israel, the U.S., or China.
5. What is the significance of Khamenei’s remarks?
Khamenei’s statements reflect Iran’s hardline stance against Israel and amplify tensions in the region. Potentially influencing allied militant groups and fueling international debate over the Gaza conflict.
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