Iran Declares Death Sentence for Netanyahu ‘Not Impossible’ Amid Rising Tensions

Iran makes a provocative statement regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that a death sentence is ‘not impossible,’ escalating regional tensions further.

According to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, countries that support Palestine might unite and consider issuing a death sentence for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu along with other senior Israeli officials due to alleged war crimes in Gaza.

In the previous month, the International Criminal Court (ICC), headquartered in The Hague, released arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. They were accused of committing war crimes and “other inhumane acts” during Israel’s military operation against Hamas in Gaza based on “reasonable grounds.” Meanwhile, Israel has rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction and denied allegations of war crimes.

In an interview featured on the state-operated news website ISNA, Gharibabadi contended that both the ICC and the International Court of Justice—a distinct judicial entity currently reviewing a genocide case against Israel—have not demonstrated a strong history in prosecuting Israelis.

“A court connected to the UN is unlikely to impose death sentences,” he noted, suggesting there might be a different “approach” for pursuing capital punishment against Israeli officials. He remarked, “Sentencing Netanyahu to death is not out of the question.”

“While numerous countries have abolished the death penalty, over 55 nations still retain it in their legal systems,” the diplomat observed. “Consequently, two or three supportive nations that back the Palestinian people and oppose [Israeli] actions can unite to establish a joint court, potentially issuing a death sentence for these officials.”

Last month, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated that Netanyahu and Gallant should face the death penalty.

This year saw a perilous increase in tensions between the Islamic Republic and the Jewish state, as both engaged in exchanges of strikes during April and October. Israel has charged Tehran with orchestrating Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023, which initiated the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In response, Iran asserted that Palestinian militants were operating independently while pledging support for the “Palestinian resistance.”

According to local authorities operated by Hamas, almost 45,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza since the commencement of Israel’s military operation in this densely populated region. The United Nations has consistently cautioned about a looming humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and has called on Israel not to obstruct aid deliveries.