US President Donald Trump praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “war hero,” although the Israeli leader is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in Gaza.

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again aligned himself with Israel’s war machine, describing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “war hero” despite his status as a wanted criminal before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in Gaza.

In an interview with conservative radio host Mark Levin on Tuesday, Trump praised Netanyahu, saying: “He’s a good man. He’s fighting there... He’s a war hero because we worked together. He’s a war hero. I guess I am too.”

The remarks sparked outrage among Palestinians and human rights defenders, who noted that Trump openly glorified a leader accused of orchestrating the mass killing of civilians. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Whitewashing War Crimes

Trump dismissed efforts to prosecute Netanyahu, saying: “They’re trying to put him in jail.” It was unclear whether he referred to the ICC’s arrest warrants or Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trials inside Israel.

In June, Trump had already called for Netanyahu’s corruption case to be dismissed, signaling his unwavering support for the embattled prime minister. Netanyahu, on trial since 2020, is the first Israeli leader to face criminal prosecution while in office.

Gaza Genocide: Over 62,000 Palestinians Killed

The timing of Trump’s praise is particularly damning. According to local health authorities, Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza since October 2023 has killed over 62,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, while famine grips the enclave due to Israel’s blockade and destruction of infrastructure.

Israel also stands trial at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for genocide in Gaza, making Trump’s glorification of Netanyahu a direct endorsement of a campaign of extermination.

Trump Boasts of Airstrikes, Hostage Deals

During the interview, Trump also boasted about his own role in military operations and Israeli negotiations. He claimed credit for securing the release of Israeli hostages from Hamas, saying: “I’m the one that got all the hostages back… none of these people would have been back, but I got them back.”

He further praised U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities earlier this year, bragging: “So, I sent those planes... The pilots came. I rewarded them... Completely destroyed.”

Analysts say such rhetoric reflects Trump’s willingness to escalate wars in the region in the service of Israeli security while ignoring the catastrophic humanitarian toll inflicted on Palestinians.

Demonizing Democrats, Slandering Palestinians

In his remarks, Trump also attacked Democrats, bizarrely accusing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of “siding with Palestinians.” He mockingly labeled him “the Palestinian senator from New York.”

The comments drew condemnation for their inflammatory and dismissive tone, trivializing Palestinian suffering while weaponizing identity politics for partisan attacks.

Shielding Israel from Accountability

Trump’s latest statements reinforce his record as one of Israel’s staunchest defenders, prioritizing Tel Aviv’s agenda over international law and justice for Palestinians. By hailing Netanyahu as a “hero” while Gaza bleeds, Trump has once again aligned himself with war criminals and underscored Washington’s complicity in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. (ILKHA)