Brussels: Belgium's deputy prime minister made a strong appeal on Thursday for Europe to uphold the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Petra de Sutter emphasized the necessity for Europe to impose economic sanctions and suspend the Association Agreement with Israel to ensure compliance with the court's decision. According to Anadolu Agency, the ICC's landmark decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant stems from accusations of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Gaza. Gallant, who was dismissed from his position earlier this month, played a pivotal role as Israel's top defense official during the 13-month offensive in Gaza, which is the focal point of the ICC warrant. The warrants have been issued amidst Israel's ongoing and devastating military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of approximately 44,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, and injuries to over 103,000 individuals. The offensive has forced nearly the entire population of Gaza into displacement, exacerbated by a blockade that has caused severe shortages of essential supplies, including food, clean water, and medicine, bringing the region to the brink of humanitarian disaster.