Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday criticized the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) recent arrest warrants against "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, arguing that death sentences—not arrest warrants—should be imposed on the "Israeli" leaders.

 

Khamenei’s remarks came days after the ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif. The court cited reasonable grounds to believe the "Israeli" leaders were responsible for crimes including murder, persecution, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

 

“They issued an arrest warrant, that’s not enough. Death sentences must be issued for these criminal leaders,” Khamenei stated, reaffirming Tehran’s staunch support for Hamas and Hezbollah in their battles against "Israel" in Gaza and Lebanon.