Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called for death sentences for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders, in response to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) recent arrest warrants.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his remarks on Monday during an event addressing members of the Basij, the volunteer force of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
In his speech, Khamenei referred to the ICC's recent decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israel's former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
"What the Zionist regime did in Gaza and Lebanon is not a victory, it is a war crime. Now they have issued a warrant for their arrest. This is not enough!" Khamenei said, according to remarks published by the state-run IRNA news agency. "Netanyahu and the criminal leaders of this regime must be sentenced to death."
The ICC in The Hague does not issue death sentences.
Khamenei also asserted that members of Iran's so-called "Axis of Resistance," including the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah, would emerge stronger from the ongoing conflict.
"The idiots should not think that bombing houses and hospitals in Gaza and Lebanon is a victory," he said. "The enemy has not become winner in Gaza and Lebanon, and it will not be winner."
Israeli Ambassador Predicts Hezbollah Ceasefire Deal 'Within Days'
The Israeli ambassador to Washington has indicated that a ceasefire agreement to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militant group, could be finalized "within days." This development suggests that diplomatic efforts are progressing toward resolving the conflict.
Ambassador Mike Herzog informed Israeli army Radio on Monday that while certain "points" still need to be finalized and government approval is necessary, "we are close to a deal" and "it can happen within days."
One of the key issues yet to be resolved is Israel's insistence on retaining the right to act if Hezbollah fails to meet its obligations under the proposed agreement. The deal aims to remove both Hezbollah and Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, striving to reduce hostilities in the region.
Does Hezbollah Want Peace?
Hezbollah has not complied with the provisions of the U.N. resolution that ended the 2006 conflict between the group and Israel, which required a withdrawal of armed forces from southern Lebanon. Israel has expressed concerns that Hezbollah's continued presence in the area could enable it to launch a Hamas-style cross-border attack. Lebanon, in turn, has accused Israel of violating the same resolution.
It remains unclear whether Lebanon will accept Israel's demand for the right to act if Hezbollah breaches its commitments under the emerging agreement. The issue adds another layer of complexity to the already sensitive negotiations.
Optimism for a potential deal follows recent talks mediated by a top U.S. envoy, who met with both sides last week in an effort to finalize an agreement.
How Did the Recent Conflict Start Between Israel and Hezbollah?
Iran-backed Hezbollah began its attacks on Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, just one day after Hamas' raid on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people, with some 250 taken hostage. The attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 sparked over a year of hostilities that have so far claimed over 44,000 lives in Gaza, according to Palestinian officials.
The conflict escalated into full-scale war in September this year, with Israel launching extensive airstrikes on Lebanon and carrying out a ground incursion into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.
The fighting has claimed over 3,500 lives in Lebanon, with 15,000 wounded and 1.2 million displaced, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.
On Israel's side, 87 soldiers and 50 civilians, including foreign workers, have been killed in attacks involving rockets, drones, and missiles. On Sunday, Hezbollah fired around 250 rockets at Israeli cities and towns, further intensifying tensions in the region.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
English (US) ·