Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Calls for Death Sentences for Israeli Leaders
DUBAI: The supreme leader of Iran, which backs the Hamas and Hezbollah fighters in Gaza and Lebanon, said on Monday that death sentences should be issued for Israeli leaders, not arrest warrants.
Reaction to International Criminal Court Decision
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was commenting on a decision by the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence chief, and a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri.
“They issued an arrest warrant, that’s not enough… Death sentence must be issued for these criminal leaders”, Khamenei said, referring to the Israeli leaders.
International Criminal Court Decision
In their decision, the ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution, and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza”.
ICC Charges
The decision was met with outrage in Israel, which called it shameful and absurd. Gaza residents expressed hope it would help end the violence and bring those responsible for war crimes to justice.
Israeli Rejection of ICC Jurisdiction
Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes in Gaza.
Warrant for Hamas Leader
The warrant for a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, lists charges of mass killings during the Oct 7, 2023, attacks on Israel that triggered the war on the long-blockaded Palestinian enclave, and also charges of rape and the taking of hostages.
Israel’s Claim of Death
Israel has said it killed Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike in July but Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied this.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and a Hamas leader highlights the deep divisions between Israel and Palestine, as well as Iran’s stance on the matter. While the ICC decision is seen as a major victory for the Palestinian people, Israel has rejected the court’s jurisdiction and has vowed to continue its actions in Gaza.
FAQs
Q: Who is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
A: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the supreme leader of Iran.
Q: Why did Khamenei call for death sentences for Israeli leaders?
A: Khamenei believes that death sentences are the only appropriate punishment for the Israeli leaders accused of war crimes.
Q: What were the charges against Israeli leaders?
A: The charges included murder, persecution, and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza”.
Q: What is the reaction of Israel to the ICC decision?
A: Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the ICC and has called the decision “shameful and absurd”.