(LibertySociety.com) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to impose a death sentence on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The demand follows the ICC’s recent issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes linked to Israel’s military operations in Gaza against Hamas.
Khamenei dismissed the ICC warrants as insufficient, labeling them a symbolic gesture that fails to deliver justice. He insisted that Netanyahu deserves execution for what he described as crimes against humanity.
However, the ICC, established under the Rome Statute, does not have the authority to issue or enforce capital punishment. Its jurisdiction allows for prosecution and imprisonment but stops short of death penalties. Moreover, Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, meaning it is not legally bound to comply with ICC actions. Similarly, other non-signatory countries, such as the United States, are not obligated to adhere to ICC rulings.
The ICC’s actions have drawn mixed reactions globally. Nations like Argentina have rejected the warrants, calling them biased and unjust, while others, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have pledged adherence to the court’s decisions.
Khamenei made his remarks during an event celebrating the Basij, an Iranian paramilitary organization closely associated with domestic crackdowns and support for regional militant groups. Reaffirming Iran’s commitment to its “resistance front,” which includes Hamas and Hezbollah, Khamenei praised their efforts against Israel, framing them as part of a broader struggle for Palestinian liberation.
The Supreme Leader’s comments have further highlighted the deep tensions between Iran and Israel, as well as the polarizing global debate over accountability for actions in the Gaza conflict. With Israel refusing to recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, the court’s warrants are unlikely to result in concrete action but have intensified diplomatic and ideological divisions.
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