Israel’s leadership has been preparing itself for some time for International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's decision to open an investigation over alleged war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. Still, Bensouda’s announcement sent shock waves through Israel and abroad, generating livid reactions from Israeli lawmakers across almost the entire political map.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set the tone, tweeting a video where he said, "The decision of the international court to open an investigation against Israel today for war crimes is absurd. It's undiluted antisemitism and the height of hypocrisy. Without any jurisdiction, it decided that our brave soldiers, who take every precaution to avoid civilian casualties against the worst terrorists in the world who deliberately target civilians, it's our soldiers who are war criminals. … This court, that was established to prevent the repetition of the Nazi horrific crimes committed against the Jewish people, is now turning its guns against the one and only state of the Jewish people,’’ said Netanyahu.
