Iran`s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called for Israeli leaders to face the death penalty instead of arrest warrants, following the recent decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue warrants for their arrest.
Khamenei made these comments on Monday, reacting to the ICC’s announcement from last Thursday that included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri.
“They issued an arrest warrant, that’s not enough... Death sentence must be issued for these criminal leaders,”
Khamenei said, referring to Netanyahu and Gallant.
The ICC issued these warrants because they believe there is enough evidence to accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of crimes such as murder, persecution, and using starvation as a weapon of war against the people of Gaza.
This decision caused outrage in Israel, with the country calling the ICC’s move "shameful" and "absurd."
However, many in Gaza expressed hope that this legal action might help end the ongoing violence and bring those responsible for the suffering in Gaza to justice.
Israel, which does not accept the ICC’s jurisdiction, denies committing war crimes in Gaza.
The ICC also issued a warrant for Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri, accusing him of mass killings during the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which sparked the conflict.
Al-Masri is also facing charges of rape and hostage-taking. Israel has claimed to have killed Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike in July, though Hamas has not confirmed his death.
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