Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court over his conduct during the Gaza war would not stop the country from defending itself, reported news agency AFP.

In a video statement he said, “No outrageous anti-Israel decision will prevent us – and it will not prevent me – from continuing to defend our country in every way. We will not yield to pressure.”

Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant face charges of “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” for their actions in Gaza.

The Israeli PM stated that the ICC which was established to protect human rights had become “an enemy of humanity” and called their decision a “dark day in the history of nations”.

He also denied the allegations made by the international body as “utterly baseless”.

Israel has been engaged in a conflict in Gaza since October 7, 2023, when a cross-border attack by Hamas militants resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.