Israel to appeal International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he decided to appeal the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for him and former defense chief Yoav Gallant.​​​​​​​

“Israel submitted an announcement to the ICC today regarding its intention to appeal to the court along with a demand to delay implementation of the arrest warrants,” Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

It noted that Netanyahu met Wednesday with US Sen. Lindsey Graham at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem.

The ICC issued arrest warrants last week for Netanyahu Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel had a deadline until midnight Wednesday to respond to the decision of the court in The Hague.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its brutal war on the Gaza Strip, where nearly 44,300 victims have been killed since October 2023.