Israel pounds Gaza as ICC issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant

The International Criminal Court decision Thursday to issue arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister "ignores" their country's right to defend itself, Argentina's leader said.

Argentina "declares its deep disagreement" with the decision, which "ignores Israel's legitimate right to self-defense against the constant attacks by terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah," President Javier Milei said in a statement on the X social media network.

Israeli strikes killed 79 pro-Iran fighters, including from Iraq and Lebanon, in the Syrian city of Palmyra, a monitor said Thursday, updating the toll for the raids a day earlier.

The toll was "the highest due to Israeli raids on pro-Iran groups in Syria since the start of the conflict" in the country in 2011, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Britain-based Observatory said Wednesday's strikes targeted three sites in Palmyra -- a modern city adjacent to renowned Greco-Roman ruins -- including one that hit a meeting of pro-Iranian groups with leaders from Iraq's Al-Nujaba group and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

The death toll has risen to "79 pro-Iran fighters", 53 of them Syrians, 22 foreign nationals "mostly from the Iraqi Al-Nujaba movement", in addition to "four from Hezbollah", said the Observatory, updating an earlier toll of 71 dead.

Syria's defence ministry said Wednesday the Israeli strikes on the city in central Syria killed 36 people and wounded more than 50 others.

Also Wednesday, Syria's foreign ministry condemned "in the strongest terms the brutal Israeli aggression against the city of Palmyra, which reflects the continuing crimes of Zionism against the countries of the region and their peoples".

Successive rounds of Israeli strikes hit Hezbollah's southern Beirut stronghold Thursday after Israeli military evacuation warnings, while Hezbollah claimed a series of attacks including on a base near south Israel's Ashdod, its deepest so far.

Lebanon's official National News Agency reported three raids "within the third round of strikes on the southern suburbs today", saying they hit the Haret Hreik and Hadath areas.

It had earlier reported two other rounds of three raids each on the southern suburbs, including a "very violent strike" on Haret Hreik and a raid on the Kafaat neighbourhood that destroyed a building and damaged others nearby.

Footage provided by news agency AFP showed columns of smoke rising from the area, usually a densely populated residential district but now largely emptied.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee on social media platform X issued several rounds of evacuation warnings for areas in the southern suburbs, saying the military would target Hezbollah "facilities and interests", pinpointing six buildings.

The Israeli military in a statement said its air force carried out strikes on "Hezbollah command centers and terror infrastructure" in the southern suburbs, which it has hit repeatedly since September 23 when it escalated air raids against the Iran-backed group.

The Netherlands has expressed its readiness to enforce the ICC arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if required, according to Dutch news agency ANP.

Citing Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, local outlet NOS reported that Netanyahu would face arrest should he set foot on Dutch territory.

Veldkamp also stated in the House of Representatives that the Netherlands would limit "non-essential" contact with Netanyahu, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, who are all subjects of ICC arrest warrants issued earlier today.

"The Netherlands implements the Rome Statute 100 percent," the foreign minister said. The signatories of the Rome Statute and members of the ICC are bound to arrest the three if they travel to their country.

France's reaction to the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be in line with the court's statutes, the foreign ministry spokesman said on Thursday, but declined to say whether France would arrest the leader if he came to the country.

When asked during a news conference if France would arrest Netanyahu, Christophe Lemoine said it was a legally complicated question.

"It's a point that is legally complex so I'm not going to comment on it today," he said.

Judges at the ICC on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence chief Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri, commonly known as Deif, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Lebanon is seeking changes to a U.S. ceasefire proposal to ensure a speedier withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon and to give both parties the right to self-defence, a senior Lebanese official told news agency Reuters on Thursday.

Lebanese officials requested the changes during meetings in Beirut this week with U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein, who is working to strike a deal in the waning months of the Biden administration to end the war between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel.

The amendments sought by Lebanon, details of which have not previously been reported, indicate Hochstein still has work to do to seal a ceasefire agreement which he said was "within our grasp" during a visit to Beirut on Tuesday.

The Lebanese official told Reuters that Lebanon wanted to see Israeli troops "withdraw immediately after the ceasefire is declared so the Lebanese army can deploy in all areas" and so displaced people could return to their homes.

The official added that the Israeli position was a withdrawal within 60 days of the truce being announced.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticised the International Criminal Court (ICC) following its arrest warrant against him and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

In a statement from his office, Netanyahu rejected the ruling "with disgust," labelling it as "anti-Semitic."

The statement further condemned the ICC’s findings, claiming Israel "categorically rejects the absurd and false lies" brought against it.

Emphasising his stance, the statement asserted that Netanyahu "will not yield to pressure, will not be deterred, and will not retreat" until Israel achieves all its war objectives.

This strong rejection underscores Israel’s longstanding opposition to ICC jurisdiction over its actions.

Palestinian group Hamas on Thursday welcomed the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

"We call on the International Criminal Court to expand the scope of accountability to all criminal occupation leaders," the group said in a statement.

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Thursday that the International Criminal Court "lost all legitimacy" after it had issued arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister over the Gaza war.

"This is a dark moment for the ICC," Saar wrote on social media platform X, adding: "The body calling itself a 'court' issued absurd orders without authority... even though Israel is not a member of the court."

Former Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman criticised the ICC's decision in a post on X, denouncing it as evidence of the international community’s "double standards and hypocrisy."

Lieberman asserted, "The state of Israel will not apologise for protecting its citizens and is committed to continuing to fight terrorism without compromise."

The International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, are a "mark of shame" for the ICC, former prime minister Naftali Bennett said on Thursday.

Israel's main opposition leader Yair Lapid also denounced the move by the Hague-based court, calling it "a reward for terrorism".

There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu or Gallant.

In its statement issued today, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif in connection with alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes during the war on Gaza since October 2023.

The ICC emphasised that the warrants specifically relate to actions in Gaza and Israel, with evidence suggesting these leaders were involved in or responsible for war crimes during the ongoing military operations.

In the case of Mohammed Deif, the ICC also acknowledged recent reports suggesting his possible death, though it stated that such claims are being carefully examined.

The status of Deif's health has added an additional layer of complexity to the investigation, as his role within Hamas is considered central to the ongoing violence.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes.

In a statement issued today, the ICC announced that these charges stem from actions in Gaza and Israel since October 2023.

The ICC said it has also rejected Israel's challenges to its jurisdiction, stating it is reaffirming the Court's authority over the situation in Palestine, including over Israeli nationals.

According to the statement, the arrest warrants were classified as secret to protect investigations and witnesses.

These actions are part of the ongoing ICC investigation into the ongoing conflict and possible war crimes.

Situation in the State of Palestine:#ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects the State of Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant. Learn more ⤵️ https://t.co/opHUjZG8BL

— Int'l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) November 21, 2024

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that 44,056 Palestinians have been killed, and 104,268 injured in Israel's military offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

Israeli forces have detained 12 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society.

The arrests took place in Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Qalqilya. During the raids, Israeli forces reportedly threatened detainees and their families, and caused damage to their homes.

Since October 7, Israeli forces have carried out 11,700 arrests in nearly daily raids across the West Bank.

Israeli first responders said a man was killed on Thursday after rocket fire from Lebanon hit the northern Galilee region.

"Emergency medical technicians and paramedics have reported a 30-year-old male with no signs of life and have declared him deceased," the Magen David Adom emergency medical service said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Thursday during which they discussed the OPEC+ oil agreement and the situation in the Middle East, the Kremlin said. 

Israeli forces have bombed the Haret Hreik quarter in southern Beirut shortly after ordering residents to evacuate, according to local media reports.

Lebanon’s National News Agency described the attack as a "very violent raid."

Further updates are expected.

A hospital director said Thursday dozens were dead or missing after an Israeli strike in northern Gaza, while rescuers said another strike in the Palestinian territory killed 22 people.

One strike was reported in a residential area near the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, which according to hospital director Hossam Abu Safiya killed or left unaccounted for "dozens of people".

The process of retrieving the bodies and wounded continues, he told news agency AFP, adding: "Bodies arrive at the hospital in pieces."

Neither the civil defence agency nor the health ministry in Gaza have confirmed a toll for the strike near the health facility.

"There are no ambulances, the health system has collapsed in northern Gaza," Abu Safiya said.

Meanwhile, Gaza's civil defence agency said 22 people were killed in another strike on Gaza City.

#صورة | تكدس الشهدا..ء داخل ساحة مستشفى كمال عدوان
بعد قصف الاحتلال لمربع سكني على رؤس ساكنيه محيط مستشفى كمال عدوان الطبي شمال قطاع غزة pic.twitter.com/zuvqDwXoR8

— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) November 21, 2024

Hezbollah announced its fighters fired missiles at Israeli troops near Khiam in southern Lebanon and at Al-Amra Gate on the town's southern outskirts.

The group also claimed to have targeted Israeli soldiers with rockets at the al-Ajl Plateau military site, north of the Kfar Yuval settlement in northern Israel.

Israeli strikes killed 71 pro-Iran operatives in the Syrian city of Palmyra, with more than a third of them identified as fighters from Iraq and Lebanon, a monitor said Thursday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said those killed in Wednesday's strikes included 45 fighters from pro-Iran Syrian groups, 26 foreign fighters, most of them from the Iraqi Al-Nujaba movement, and four from Lebanon's Hezbollah armed group.

The strikes targeted three sites in the city renowned for its ancient ruins, including one that hit a meeting of pro-Iranian groups with leaders from Al-Nujaba and Hezbollah.

Syria said the Israeli strikes on the central city killed 36 people and wounded more than 50 others, in the latest toll issued by the defence ministry.

"The Israeli enemy launched an air attack from the direction of the Al-Tanf area, targeting a number of buildings in the city of Palmyra," it said on Wednesday.

In a separate statement, the Syrian foreign ministry condemned "in the strongest terms the brutal Israeli aggression against the city of Palmyra, which reflects the continuing crimes of Zionism against the countries of the region and their peoples".

At least three people were killed and several others injured when Israeli forces bombed the Miraj area in northern Rafah, according to reports from news publication Al Jazeera English.

More updates to come.

Israeli warplanes targeted a building on Abu Dheeb Street in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, according to the National News Agency (NNA).

The attack caused significant material damage, though no injuries were reported, the agency confirmed.

US envoy Amos Hochstein, seeking to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war, will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, the premier's office said.

The announcement by spokesman Omer Dostri came after Israeli media outlets reported that Hochstein had arrived in Israel on Wednesday evening and held talks with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.