Israel’s Defense Minister Joab Gallant characterized “disgraceful” the proposal of his prosecutor International Criminal Court for the issuance of arrest warrants against himself and his prime minister, the Benjamin Netanyahu.

“The attempt by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to turn the tide will not succeed. The equation between the terrorist organization Hamas and Israel are shameful», says Gallant in a statement. “Attorney General Karim Khan’s attempt to deny the State of Israel the right to defend itself and secure the release of hostages held in Gaza must be roundly rejected.”

In his announcement, Karim Khan emphasizes Israel’s right to defend its population.

“This right, however, does not exempt Israel or any state from the obligation to comply with international humanitarian law,” the ICC prosecutor points out in the text, and states that regardless of the military goals Israel wants to achieve in Gaza, the prosecutor believes that the means of achieving them – namely, the intentional infliction of death, starvation, great suffering and serious bodily injury or damage to the health of the civilian population – constitute criminal acts.”

Two days after the war began following Hamas attacks on Israeli soil, Yoav Gallad ordered “universal siege” of the 2.4 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip.

“There is no electricity, no food, no water, no gas – everything has been cut off,” Gallant said in a video message on Oct. 9.