The Islamist organization Hamas This Thursday, it celebrated the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to order the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
“International justice is with us against the Zionist entity“Hamas stated in a statement.
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The member of the political bureau of the organization, Izzat al Rishqassured that this ICC decision exposes “the true terrorist face” of Israel for the benefit of the Palestinians, as well as that its cause and objective of liberation “are inevitable.”
“The occupying state (Israel) faces the truth, contradicts the concept of justice and clashes with human values,” stated Al Rishq.
The ICC also ordered the arrest of Mohamed Deif, who led the armed wing of Hamas, the Al Qasam Brigades, although Israel declared him dead after a bombardment against the humanitarian zone of Mawasi, in southern Gaza, on December 13. July, in which 90 Palestinians died. Hamas, however, never confirmed his death.
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In another statement, Hamas accused the United States of obstructing the ICC decision for months by “terrorizing the court and its judges.”
Islamists appreciated the decision as an important historical precedent “and a correction of a long path of historical injustice” against the Palestinian people.
“We call on the ICC to hold accountable all criminal leaders of the occupation, their ministers and officials,” said the organization, which governs Gaza.
Hamas asks for collaboration from the world
Finally, Hamas called on all countries in the world to cooperate with the Court to prosecute both Israeli politicians and work to end the offensive in Gaza.
Basem Naim, also part of the organization’s political bureau, warned that the decision remains “limited and symbolic if it does not receive support with all possible means from all countries in the world.”
The judges approved the arrest warrants requested on May 20 by the prosecutor against Netanyahu and Gallant as “criminally responsible as co-authors of the war crimes of using hunger as a method of war and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhuman acts.”
In addition, they are also considered responsible as “civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population” in the Gaza Strip, where the death toll today exceeded 44,000.
In the case of Hamas, prosecutor Karim Khan had also requested the arrest of its leader in Gaza and mastermind of October 7, Yahya Sinwar; the head of the military wing, Mohammed Deif; and that of his political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh.
The arrest warrant was only issued for Deif, whose death Hamas did not confirm, as it did with those of Sinwar and Haniyeh.
The charge against Deif includes six war crimes, including hostage-taking and acts of sexual violence, and five crimes against humanity, including extermination and murder, stemming from the October 7 attack.
