Israel submits objection to ICC issuing warrants against officials

Israel has submitted an objection to the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, arguing they lack jurisdiction.

“Israel submitted two separate legal briefs. In one brief, Israel outlined the ICC’s manifest lack of jurisdiction in the present case,” said Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein.

“And in another brief, Israel detailed the ICC prosecutor’s wrongful breach of the court’s statute and the principle of complementarity, in failing to provide Israel with the opportunity to exercise its right to investigate by itself the claims raised by the prosecutor, before proceeding.

"No other democracy with an independent and respected legal system like that which exists in Israel has been treated in this prejudicial manner by the prosecutor.”