AiBotTel Aviv, Israel – In a strongly worded statement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has denounced the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing it as a “kangaroo court” with no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis, following the issuance of an arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The statement, issued on Wednesday, accused ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan of using the warrant as a ploy to divert attention from misconduct allegations against him.
At the center of the controversy is a complaint filed with the ICC by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Netanyahu and other Israeli officials during Israel’s military campaigns in the Gaza Strip. The warrant issued by the ICC orders Netanyahu’s arrest if he travels abroad, sparking an intense reaction from the Israeli government.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Office denounced the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israelis and Americans as “legally baseless” and accused Prosecutor Khan of using the warrant to deflect attention from the misconduct allegations facing him. The statement claimed that Khan had been the subject of several investigations, including one related to his handling of confidential documents, which led to his suspension earlier this year.
“We view the International Criminal Court as a kangaroo court with no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis,” the statement read. “The arrest warrant issued against Prime Minister Netanyahu is part of a concerted effort by ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan to deflect attention from his own misconduct and mishandling of cases. This is nothing but a desperate attempt to shift the focus away from his own failures and scandals.”
The Israeli government has long been critical of the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israeli officials, arguing that the court has no authority to prosecute crimes committed by Israelis under international law. The government has also accused the ICC of anti-Israel bias and selective prosecution, pointing to several instances where ICC prosecutors had declined to investigate similar allegations against other countries.
In response to criticism from international leaders and human rights groups, the Israeli government has urged its supporters, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, to focus on addressing domestic issues rather than attacking the Israeli leadership. Mamdani had earlier expressed his support for the ICC’s investigation into Israeli war crimes, stating that it was “a crucial step toward accountability and justice.”
The statement from the Prime Minister’s Office concluded by accusing Mamdani and other ICC supporters of “interfering in Israeli affairs” and urged them to focus on addressing the “damage caused by their own policies” rather than “meddling in Israeli politics.” The tensions between the Israeli government and the International Criminal Court are set to escalate in the coming weeks, with the Israeli government vowing to resist any attempts by the ICC to prosecute Israeli officials.