Ayatollah Khamenei: "Netanyahu Deserves a Death Sentence, Not Just Arrest Warrant"
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has stated that the arrest warrant issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is insufficient, calling instead for a death sentence to be issued.
Speaking on Thursday in response to the ICC’s recent warrant against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Khamenei declared, "An arrest warrant is not enough… What these criminal leaders truly deserve is a death sentence."
The ICC’s judges ruled earlier this week that there is sufficient reason to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant are criminally responsible for war crimes, including the use of starvation as a weapon and orchestrating systematic attacks against civilians in Gaza. The court found them culpable for acts such as murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts targeting Gaza’s civilian population.
The ICC's decision has sparked outrage in Israel, with government officials labeling the ruling as "shameful" and "illegitimate." Meanwhile, residents of Gaza have expressed hope that the warrants will lead to accountability and an end to violence in the region.
Despite the ICC's decision, Israel has rejected the court’s jurisdiction, denying allegations of war crimes in Gaza. The warrants are seen as a significant step in holding leaders accountable, though critics, including Khamenei, argue that more decisive action is needed.
This development underscores the heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, as well as the broader regional implications of ongoing violence in Gaza and international efforts to address alleged war crimes.
