FM Sa'ar says he believe US will punish ICC for arrest warrants

Saar said other countries were also dismayed by the decision, including the United States.

By REUTERS NOVEMBER 28, 2024 14:01 Updated: NOVEMBER 28, 2024 14:37

MK Gideon Sa'ar attends a civil investigative committee hearing on the October 7 massacre, in Tel Aviv, August 18, 2024 (photo credit: FLASH90/TOMER NEUBERG)

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Thursday he believed the United States would punish the International Criminal Court for having issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister.

Israel has said it will appeal the ICC decision to move against Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

However, during a visit to the Czech Republic, Sa'ar said other countries were also dismayed by the decision, including the United States.

"I tend to believe that in Washington, legislation is going to take place very shortly against the ICC and whoever cooperates with it," Sa'ar told a joint press conference with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky.

THE ARREST warrants, which the ICC issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, are ridiculous, absurd and baseless, the writer asserts. (credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)

Reiterating Israel-Hamas War objectives

Sa'ar added that Israel would finish the 14-month-old war in the Gaza Strip when it "achieves its objectives" of returning hostages being held by the Iran-backed terrorist organization Hamas and ensuring the Islamist group no longer controls the Palestinian enclave.

Sa'ar said Israel did not intend to control civilian life in the Gaza Strip, adding that peace was "inevitable" but couldn't be based on "illusions."