GAZA CITY: Palestine requested the International Criminal Court issue an arrest warrant against Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich because of his recent tomfoolery justifying Palestinians’ hunger in Gaza. Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced Alan Smotrich’s comments with the message asserting that it means endorsing genocide. 

 Smotrich said in a statement on Monday that this is justified and moral, assuming two million people in Gaza would die from hunger. Still, then, he said, and rightly so, that nobody will let us cause two million civilians to die of hunger. These statements caused much anger and led Palestine to complain to the ICC formally. 

 ”This is surrendering and bragging about a policy of genocide,” the Palestinian Foreign Ministry replied on Twitter. The ministry also called Smotrich’s comments “a blatant violation of international law and the principles of humanity. ” It claimed that the Israeli minister was undermining the ICJ and going against international conventions aimed at the defense of civilians and the provision of humanitarian assistance. 

 Previously, the Palestinian ministry called on the ICC to act quickly and formally request an arrest warrant against Smotrich, stating that he approved the collective punishment of Palestinians. The appeals for responsibility have been made as the situation in Gaza continues to deepen and worsen. 

 From October 7, 2023, Israel has tightened the siege on the Gaza Strip, making the entire population near famine level. Number of deaths is given by the Palestinian Ministry of Health as several dozen children, while the actual number is expected to be higher, as children are dying from starvation. Numerous deaths are not reported because many people in the besieged territory cannot reach the few health facilities that are still operational. 

 The situation in Gaza has been causing outrage among many international human rights organizations as well as governments in the world. From the above passage, it could be deduced that due to the blockade, the population is suffering from restrictions on basic needs, namely food, water, and medical supplies, which makes the existing humanitarian situation worse. 

 The case of Palestine approaching the ICC demonstrates the necessity of outside intervention in stopping the killing of innocent people in Gaza and laying responsibility for escalating conflict at the feet of those who deserve it. Since the situation is still tense, the world is again urged to intervene to stop the bloodshed and promote the fundamental human rights of the people in Gaza. 

This demand from the Palestinian Foreign Ministry shows how the IGF is building up on Israel to seek a solution to the human tragedy in Gaza. This, coupled with the increasing international attention towards the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, might bring justice through the ICC, which could be legally binding to the Israeli leaders.