Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas representative, criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for issuing arrest warrants for both Israeli and Hamas leaders.

"This decision equates the executioner with the victim. It encourages Israel to continue its war of annihilation in the Gaza Strip," Abu Zuhri told Reuters.

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan has requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the head of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, the group's senior political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and Hamas' military leader, Mohammed Deif.