Israel has called on those it described as “nations of the civilised world” to refuse to stand against any International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued against its leaders.

DAILY POST reported that Karim Khan, who is the chief prosecutor of the ICC had announced on Monday that his office had applied to a pre-trial panel for arrest warrants for three senior Hamas officials.

He also said that the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his defence minister, Yoav Gallant would be arrested for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Hamas attack of 7 October and the ensuing seven-month-old war in Gaza.

The announcement was met with outrage by Israeli officials, the public, and the country’s allies.

In an official reaction on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Israeli government, Tal Heinrich, said, “We call on the nations of the civilised, free world – nations who despise terrorists and anyone who supports them – to stand by Israel. You should outright condemn this step

“Make sure the ICC understands where you stand. Oppose the prosecutor’s decision and declare that, even if warrants are issued, you do not intend to enforce them. Because this is not about our leaders. It’s about our survival.”

The prosecutor made it clear that Israel had the right to defend itself from Hamas, but that it did not “absolve Israel or any state of its obligation to comply with international humanitarian law”.

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