🇮🇱 The International Criminal Court (ICC) may issue arrest warrants this week for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and senior Israeli military officials, reports say

Israel is reportedly working via diplomatic channels to prevent the warrants from being issued.

At the same time, the ICC was quoted as saying that it has “an ongoing independent investigation in relation to the situation in the State of Palestine” and has “no further comment to make at this stage” when asked by the broadcaster about media reports of the potential arrest warrants.

👉 Netanyahu said on social media on Friday that any intervention by the ICC would “set a dangerous precedent that threatens the soldiers and officials of all democracies fighting savage terrorism and wanton aggression.” Israel is not a member of the ICC and does not recognize its jurisdiction.

Following the Hamas’ large-scale rocket attack on Israel in October, Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages.

☝️ Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed almost 34,500 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.