ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli leaders
Wong indicates Australia would arrest Netanyahu
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has signalled that Australia would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.
This follows the decision of the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, which has shocked Jewish and Israeli leaders.
When asked in Parliament by shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash if Australia would arrest Netanyahu, Wong said it was a hypothetical question.
But she said “Australia will act consistently with our obligations under international law and our approach will be informed by international law, not by politics”.
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) has strongly condemned the decision, labelling it a “shameless attack” that undermines justice.
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler described the ICC’s decision as “morally bankrupt,” arguing it targets the leaders of a democratic nation defending itself against terrorism.
“Equating Israel and Hamas only serves to legitimise the atrocities of October 7, and gives a greenlight to terrorist organisations that they can get away with murdering, raping, and kidnapping,” Leibler said.
The organization’s CEO, Alon Cassuto, questioned the ICC’s credibility, noting that Hamas, a listed terrorist organisation, had welcomed the decision.
Cassuto has called on the Australian Government and international community to reject what he termed “baseless attempts to delegitimise Israel’s leadership.”
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry passed a motion at its annual conference condemning the arrest warrants, citing bias, lack of jurisdiction, and failure to address broader violations in other conflicts. I
ECAJ called on the Australian Government to denounce the decision, reject politicization of the ICC, and support Israel’s right to self-defence.
Liberal Party Senator Dave Sharma said “The ICC decision regarding Israel lacks a sound basis in law and sadly shows the court has become politicised”.
He believes the government should reassess Australia’s involvement with the court.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog denounced the ICC’s decision as “a dark day for justice” and “a dark day for humanity.”
He argued that the decision “ignores the plight of the 101 Israeli hostages held in brutal captivity by Hamas in Gaza” and disregards Hamas’s use of civilians as human shields.
Herzog emphasized Israel’s status as a democracy acting under international humanitarian law while providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza’s civilian population.
In a forceful response, Prime Minister Netanyahu likened the ICC’s decision to the Dreyfus affair, comparing it to the infamous antisemitic trial of French Jewish army officer Alfred Dreyfus in the 1890s.
Netanyahu strongly defended Israel’s efforts to protect civilian lives in Gaza, citing the distribution of millions of text messages, phone calls, and leaflets warning civilians to evacuate dangerous areas.
Netanyahu detailed Israel’s humanitarian efforts, stating that 700,000 tons of food had been supplied to Gaza, providing “3,200 calories for every man, woman and child.”
He also highlighted Israel’s recent facilitation of polio vaccinations for 97 percent of Gaza’s population.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Israel would not recognize the ICC’s decision, vowing to continue defending Israeli citizens against what he termed “Iran’s axis of terror.”
He expressed gratitude to international allies, particularly the United States, who have condemned the ICC’s decision and warned of potential consequences for the court and those who cooperate with its ruling.
The White House issued a brief response saying it “fundamentally rejects” the decision.
“We remain deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision. The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter. In coordination with partners, including Israel, we are discussing next steps.” the statement from the White House’s National Security Council said.
The prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Kahn, who recommended the arrest warrants, is currently under investigation for sexual abuse.
comments