Netanyahu arrest warrant damned by Israel, welcomed by Palestinians

Ordinary Palestinians in Gaza have also welcomed the announcement. Muhammad Ali, a 40-year old man displaced from Gaza City and currently in the central area of Deir al-Balah, said:

“We have been terrorised, starved, had our homes destroyed, and lost our children, sons, and loved ones. We welcome this decision, and of course, we hope that the decisions of the ICC will be implemented”.

Munira Al-Shami, whose sister was killed by Israeli forces last month, called the ICC decision “justice for tens of thousands of victims, including my sister Wafa”.

Meanwhile, some Israeli citizens said the arrests went against Israel’s right to defend itself.

“Somehow I’m not surprised,” Ron Ackerman said, adding he thinks the ICC “is purely antisemitic and it doesn’t see what’s going on around Israel, only they look at Israel”.

Helen Kariv from Jerusalem said: “When I first heard it I said, ‘my God, where did they get the idea of arresting the prime minister of the state of Israel and his chief of staff’?… We are fighting for survival.”