Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for death sentences for Israeli leaders, escalating tensions following the International Criminal Court's (ICC) issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri. The ICC charges, announced last Thursday, cite alleged war crimes tied to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the deadly Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023.
"They issued an arrest warrant, that's not enough... Death sentence must be issued for these criminal leaders," Khamenei said in a speech on Monday, referring to Netanyahu and Gallant.
The ICC accuses the Israeli leaders of responsibility for murder, persecution, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. The charges are part of what the court described as a "widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza." Israel, which rejects the ICC's jurisdiction, denounced the decision as "shameful and absurd." Netanyahu's government maintains that its military actions in Gaza are lawful and necessary, alleging that Hamas uses civilians as human shields.
The arrest warrant for Ibrahim Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, includes allegations of mass killings, rape, and hostage-taking during Hamas's October 7, 2023, assault, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and triggered the current war. Israel claims it killed Deif in an airstrike in July, though Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied his death.
The conflict, now in its second year, has devastated Gaza. According to the Hamas health ministry, more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed. Israel disputes these numbers, stating that it has eliminated 17,000 combatants. Civilian casualties, Israel argues, are the result of Hamas embedding its operations within densely populated areas.
Reactions to the ICC's ruling have been mixed. Some Western nations, including Britain and Italy, have stated they would honor the arrest warrants if Netanyahu or Gallant were to enter their territories. The United States, which is not a member of the ICC, rejected the decision outright. Meanwhile, Gaza residents expressed hope that the warrants signal a step toward accountability. "This is an important moment for justice," said one resident in a televised interview.
The conflict has spilled into neighboring Lebanon, where Hezbollah has been launching near-daily rocket and drone attacks on Israel's northern border. Israel has retaliated with extensive strikes targeting Hezbollah's infrastructure, claiming it has taken out much of the group's leadership, including its long-time figurehead, Hassan Nasrallah. The cross-border hostilities have displaced approximately 60,000 Israelis and have drawn Israel into direct confrontation with Iran, Hezbollah's primary backer.
Iran's role in the conflict has been increasingly visible. In October, Tehran launched 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, causing damage to military installations and some residential areas. The attack, largely mitigated by Israeli air defenses, prompted retaliatory Israeli strikes on Iranian military sites. On Monday, a senior adviser to Khamenei warned that Iran is "preparing to respond" to Israel, without elaborating on the nature of the response.
Netanyahu, who recently dismissed Gallant over disagreements on managing the war, has faced growing criticism from opposition leaders and human rights groups. However, his administration remains resolute, emphasizing its commitment to Israel's security and counterterrorism objectives. "The defense of our people is non-negotiable," Netanyahu said in a statement.
