CNN: Iran is calling for the arrests of 15 Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, on charges of war crimes in Gaza.
TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — Iran is calling for the arrests of 15 Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, on charges of war crimes in Gaza.
Tehran's top prosecutor said Olmert, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and 12 other Israeli leaders violated international law and committed war crimes during Israel's recent offensive in Gaza, according to state-run news agency ISNA.
The prosecutor called on Interpol to issue arrest warrants for the "war criminals," the agency said Sunday.
Iran is investigating about 100 Israelis, calling them "war criminals," ISNA said.
The country has been engaged in an escalating war of words with Israel, which it accuses of trying to destabilize the republic.
Israel launched the attack on the militant group Hamas in Gaza on December 27 after repeated Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel
More than 1,300 Palestinians died and about 5,400 others were wounded. Thirteen Israelis, including 10 soldiers, were also killed in the fighting.
Since the two sides declared a cease-fire on January 21, militants have sporadically fired rockets into Israel. Israel has responded with airstrikes.
Israel will retaliate against Gaza with a "painful, sharp, strong and uncompromising response" if the rocket attacks do not stop, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday.
He warned "terrorists" that they would not be able to anticipate Israel's moves.
"The Israeli response will — in no way — be what the terrorist organizations expect. The state of Israel has a wide range of options that will be utilized in order to bring complete quiet to the south," he said Sunday at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting.
