Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party has introduced a bill in the Knesset aimed at stripping military and security personnel of their ranks if they publicly call for disobeying military orders. This legislative move comes in the wake of comments made by Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, who accused Israel of killing Palestinian children in Gaza as a 'hobby.'
According to Anadolu Agency, the proposal by Likud members is a response to the remarks made by Yair Lapid and former general Golan, who is also the leader of the Democrats Party. Golan characterized Israel as a pariah state for its actions in Gaza, stating that a 'sane country does not fight against civilians, does not kill children as a hobby.'
These comments have sparked intense reactions from Netanyahu and his administration, who have largely disregarded international calls to halt their military operations in Gaza. Since October 2023, the Israeli military has been engaged in a relentless offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 53,500 Palestinians, many of whom are women and children.
The situation has drawn international legal attention, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.