Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the "anti-Semitic" the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant against him and the until recently Minister of Defense Yoav Galant and defined himself as a victim of a modern version of the "Dreyfus" affair, reported France Press, quoted by BTA.
The ICC requested a similar measure against the leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement "Hamas" Ibrahim al-Masri, known as Mohammed Deif. The tribunal, based in The Hague, suspects the three of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
"The anti-Semitic decision of the International Criminal Court can be likened to a modern version of the Dreyfus trial, which will end the same way," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
Convicted of espionage, appealed and sent to prison at the end of the 19th century in France, Alfred Dreyfus, a captain of Jewish origin in the French army, was acquitted and rehabilitated a few years later, notes AFP.
Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog also criticized the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, Reuters reported.
"The decision chose the side of terrorism and evil over democracy and freedom and turned the very system of international justice into a human shield for the crimes of "Hamas" against humanity," Herzog said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the order a "dark moment" from the history of the ICC and added that the court has lost all legitimacy.
"Israel is waging an existential battle against terrorist organizations that attack, kill and rape our citizens, these arrest warrants encourage terrorism," said Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid.
Israel's far-right Internal Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the ICC for "proving once again that it is completely anti-Semitic.
"We call on the International Criminal Court to (indict) all the leaders of the criminal occupation,"Hamas said.
Bassem Naim, a senior representative of the Palestinian Islamist movement, described the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Galant as "an important step on the road to justice and justice for the victims, but it will remain only a paper measure if not be supported by practically all countries".
The ICC "is a dangerous mockery (of justice). It's time for the US Senate to step up and sanction this irresponsible institution," said Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham, who is close to US President-elect Donald Trump.
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell, said that the orders of the ICC against Netanyahu and Galant are not political and the court decision must be respected and implemented.
The Netherlands will comply with the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Galant and Mohamed Deif, Foreign Minister Kaspar Veldkamp said, as quoted by the Netherlands News Agency (ANP).
The headquarters of the ICC is in the Dutch city of The Hague.
A spokesman for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs limited himself to saying that the country would react "in accordance with the Statute of the ICC".
The decisions of the ICC must be respected and implemented, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi said. He emphasized that "Palestinians deserve justice.
"This arrest warrant against the prime minister of a democratic country and its former defense minister is absurd," said the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, quoted by DPA. He reacted indignantly and urged the German government not to accept such a reversal of the roles of criminal and victim.