Now that the Passover holiday has ended (it lasts a day longer outside of Israel), the Israeli government is bracing for the possibility that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) may issue arrest warrants for certain senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged ”war crimes” in Gaza. Israel stands accused of such crimes in its war against Hamas terrorists who embedded themselves in civilian areas in the Gaza Strip, including schools and hospitals.
The charges, if any, would include allegations that the Israeli military’s attacks on Hamas positions in such places violate international law and even the false allegation that Israel has blocked aid shipments to Gaza.
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Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz instructed all of the country’s embassies around the world to “immediately prepare for the outbreak of a severe anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli anti-Semitic wave in the world.”
Due to what the Foreign Ministry said is the “seriousness of the threat” to the Jewish communities abroad, Foreign Minister Katz also instructed that Jewish organizations around the world be included in the campaign to inform the public of the need to prepare for possible procedures of this type, including the coordination of increased security around Jewish institutions vis-a-vis the authorities.
“We expect the court to refrain from issuing arrest warrants against senior Israeli political and security officials,” said Foreign Minister Israel Katz. “There is nothing more twisted than trying to prevent Israel from defending itself against a murderous enemy that openly calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. If the orders are issued, they will harm the commanders and soldiers of the IDF and give a boost to the terrorist organization Hamas and the radical Islamic axis led by Iran against which we are fighting.”
Katz added that Israel adheres to all the laws of war, accompanied by a “strong and independent legal system, and facilitates extensive humanitarian aid to the population in Gaza in cooperation with international parties, even though Hamas uses the population as a human shield, attacking and making it difficult to provide aid.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier issued a statement rejecting any action by the ICJ or the notion that he might change his policies due to the court’s actions.
“Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense,” he said. “The threat to seize the soldiers and officials of the Middle East’s only democracy and the world’s only Jewish state is outrageous. We will not bow to it.”
In addition, the International Court of Justice on Tuesday will hear arguments in a case brought by the government of Nicaragua which seeks to force Germany to cease arms sales to Israel due to the war in Gaza. However, the ICJ has no such authority to do so and any ruling would only be symbolic.
