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Edited by: TJVNews.com
On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, intensifying debates surrounding Israel’s actions in its ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza. According to a detailed report on the World Israel News web site, these meetings centered on the pursuit of international legal action against Israeli leaders for alleged war crimes, with both Erdogan and Abbas urging Khan to take stronger steps against the Jewish state.
Khan has already formally requested international arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of committing war crimes in their military campaign in Gaza. Erdogan, in his meeting with Khan, called for even more aggressive action, accusing Israel of planning further violence. World Israel News reported that Erdogan told Khan, “It is extremely important for the genocide case filed against Israel at the International Criminal Court to be concluded and for the perpetrators of genocide to receive the punishment they deserve.”
The Turkish president’s remarks reflect his long-standing criticism of Israel, and his latest statement comes as tensions escalate in Gaza. Erdogan’s office emphasized that bringing those responsible to justice is crucial, indicating Turkey’s full support for the ICC’s investigation into alleged Israeli actions.
In a separate meeting, Abbas echoed Erdogan’s sentiments, pushing Khan to expedite investigations into what he termed “Israeli war crimes” and calling for measures to prevent future “crimes against the Palestinian people.” World Israel News highlighted Abbas’ ongoing efforts to gain international support for legal actions against Israel, a central aspect of the Palestinian Authority’s diplomatic strategy.
Prime Minister Netanyahu responded to the developments with sharp criticism, not only of Erdogan and Abbas but also of ICC Prosecutor Khan himself. Netanyahu pointed to the controversial nature of Erdogan and Abbas’ human rights records. He sarcastically remarked, “Under the category of ‘This can only happen at the UN,’” while condemning the ICC’s focus on Israel rather than other global human rights violations. As World Israel News reported, Netanyahu accused Erdogan of “slaughtering Kurdish civilians and jailing journalists” and reminded the international community of Abbas’ Holocaust denial and the Palestinian Authority’s practice of paying stipends to terrorists convicted of killing Israeli civilians.
Netanyahu’s remarks also took direct aim at Khan’s priorities, accusing the ICC of unfairly targeting Israel’s democratically elected leaders who, according to Netanyahu, are conducting a “just war with just means against genocidal terrorists.” In a pointed critique of Khan’s role, Netanyahu said, “What a joke!” reflecting Israel’s frustration with the ICC’s handling of the case.
The meetings and subsequent reactions highlight the deepening international divide over Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the role of international justice in addressing alleged war crimes. According to World Israel News, Israel views its actions as legitimate self-defense against Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, while Turkey and the Palestinian Authority continue to frame Israel’s responses as acts of aggression.
The involvement of high-profile figures such as Erdogan and Abbas, coupled with the ICC’s investigation, indicates that international legal pressure on Israel will likely continue to grow. However, Israel remains resolute in its defense of its actions, viewing them as necessary measures to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks.
