Israel's Netanyahu rejects 'with disgust' ICC prosecutor's arrest bid

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he rejects "with disgust" an application by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for his arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

The prosecutor, Karim Khan, applied for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as well as top Hamas leaders on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"I reject with disgust The Hague prosecutor's comparison between democratic Israel and the mass murderers of Hamas," Netanyahu said in a statement, referring to the city in the Netherlands where the court is based.

The prosecutor said he was seeking warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant for crimes including "wilful killing", "extermination and/or murder" and "starvation".

"With what audacity do you dare compare the monsters of Hamas to the soldiers of the IDF (Israeli army), the most moral army in the world?" Netanyahu said.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz earlier slammed the prosecutor's application as a "historical disgrace" and a "scandalous decision" that amounted to "a frontal attack... on the victims of October 7".

Katz added that Israel would establish a special committee to fight the ICC prosecutor's bid for an arrest warrant, and also embark on a diplomatic push against it.

Netanyahu drew a link between the prosecutor's application and weeks of protests on US university campuses against Israel's campaign in Gaza.

"This is exactly what the new anti-Semitism looks like, it has moved from the campuses in the West to the court in The Hague."

He further vowed to continue the campaign in Gaza.

"I pledge that no pressure and no decision in any international forum will prevent us from striking those who seek to destroy us," Netanyahu said.

"We will overthrow the evil rule of Hamas and achieve complete victory."