Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) efforts to pursue a war crimes case against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders for the Gaza conflict, arguing that they deserve a “death sentence” instead.

Speaking at a gathering of Basij paramilitary members linked to the Revolutionary Guards in Tehran on Monday, Khamenei dismissed the ICC’s arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif as inadequate. “They issued an arrest warrant, that’s not enough… Death sentences must be issued for these criminal leaders,” he said. 

He reiterated Iran’s commitment to the destruction of the “Zionist regime,” aligning with the position of Iranian-backed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, which have been actively engaged in fighting against Israel in Gaza and Lebanon.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, accusing them of using starvation as a weapon of war and deliberately targeting civilians in Gaza during Israel’s ongoing military operations. Charges against Hamas leader Mohammed Deif include mass killings, rape, and taking hostages during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis and the capture of 251 hostages.

Israel, which is not a member of the ICC, has rejected the court’s jurisdiction and accused Hamas of using Gaza’s civilian population as human shields. The United States, also a non-member, similarly rejected the ICC’s decision. Despite this, some Western countries, including Britain and Italy, have stated that they would enforce the arrest warrants if Netanyahu or Gallant were to enter their jurisdictions.