The prime minister’s office called it “an antisemitic decision” and said that Israel “utterly rejects the false and absurd charges”, labelling the ICC “a biased and discriminatory political body”.
The chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, Yuli Edelstein, called it “a shameful decision by a political body held captive by Islamist interests”. Israel’s foreign minister said the ICC had lost its legitimacy.
Hamas has welcomed the decision, without commenting on the issuing of a warrant for its own military commander, Mohammed Deif.
In a statement it said: “We call on all countries around the world to cooperate with the court in bringing the Zionist war criminals, Netanyahu and Gallant and to work immediately to stop the crimes of genocide against defenceless civilians in the Gaza Strip”.
Ordinary Palestinians in Gaza have also welcomed the announcement. Muhammad Ali, a 40-year old man displaced from Gaza City and currently in the central area of Deir al-Balah, said:
“We have been terrorised, starved, had our homes destroyed, and lost our children, sons, and loved ones. We welcome this decision, and of course, we hope that the decisions of the ICC will be implemented”.
Munira Al-Shami, whose sister was killed by Israeli forces last month, called the ICC decision “justice for tens of thousands of victims, including my sister Wafa”.