Trump’s praise for Netanyahu as “World’s Greatest Warrior” is dangerous and misleading

In a recent and deeply controversial remark, former U.S. President Donald Trump lauded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the “world’s greatest warrior.”

This statement not only flies in the face of international norms and human rights standards but also dangerously glorifies a leader whose actions in Gaza and the West Bank have been widely condemned by human rights organizations, legal experts, and global civil society.

Netanyahu: A Warrior or a War Criminal?

To call Netanyahu the “greatest warrior” is to ignore the painful reality of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza, which has been under Israeli blockade for over 17 years.

Since October 2023, Israel’s military operations have resulted in the deaths of over 38,000 Palestinians, according to figures reported by Al Jazeera and the Palestinian Health Ministry, many of whom were women and children.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan in May 2024 formally applied for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war, intentionally targeting civilians, and obstructing humanitarian aid (International Criminal Court, 2024).

“Israel has systematically deprived the civilian population in Gaza of food, water, medicine and fuel,” said Khan. “These actions constitute crimes under the Rome Statute.”

These charges are not mere rhetoric — they are grounded in international legal standards, and they reflect the severity of Israel’s actions under Netanyahu’s leadership.

Blockade and Starvation as Military Tactics

One of the most damning aspects of Netanyahu’s policy in Gaza is the deliberate restriction of food, water, and medical supplies to the besieged population. International humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, explicitly prohibits the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have both published reports describing the blockade and military siege of Gaza as collective punishment and potential war crimes:

• “Israel is using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in the Gaza Strip, which is a war crime,” said Human Rights Watch (2023).
• The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Territories, Francesca Albanese, also declared that Israel’s campaign amounts to genocide under international law.

This is not the behavior of a “great warrior” — this is the behavior of a leader who believes that might makes right, and who shows utter contempt for the lives of civilians, particularly those in one of the most densely populated and impoverished areas on earth.

Trump’s Endorsement: A Dangerous Signal

Trump’s praise of Netanyahu must be seen for what it is — an endorsement of impunity. Such remarks embolden not just Israel’s aggressive policies, but also set a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian leaders who commit atrocities under the guise of self-defense.

More worryingly, Trump’s statement undermines the legitimacy and authority of international legal institutions such as the ICC, and sends a message that Western double standards still dictate whose war crimes are punished and whose are ignored.

The Hypocrisy of Human Rights Discourse

While leaders in the Global South are often swiftly condemned and prosecuted for human rights violations, leaders like Netanyahu continue to enjoy Western protection and impunity, despite overwhelming evidence of systemic abuses.

As the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

It is time the international community stops treating Israeli violations as exceptions. No nation — regardless of its alliances — should be allowed to operate above the law.

Conclusion: The Real Heroes Are the Survivors, Not the Aggressors

The true heroes are not those who bomb cities and blockade hospitals. The real warriors are the doctors in Gaza performing surgeries without anesthesia, the mothers who shield their children from airstrikes, and the humanitarian workers risking their lives to bring food and water to starving civilians.

Trump’s proclamation is not just rubbish — it is an affront to justice, human dignity, and truth. Netanyahu is not a warrior to be celebrated. He is a leader whose actions must be scrutinized, and, if justice is to mean anything, he must be held accountable.