By Qais Abu Samra

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Monday called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials over the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

“The ICC must issue arrest warrants for criminals as a precautionary step to stop the killing machine,” Shtayyeh said during a Cabinet meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

“I salute the countries that will submit referrals to the ICC to prosecute criminals,” he added, without providing any further details.

The Palestinian premier went on to call for action “to stop the (Israeli) aggression that has turned the Gaza Strip into a valley of blood."

The Israeli army has launched air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 9,770 Palestinians, including 4,800 children and 2,550 women, have been killed in the Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip. Israeli death toll is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.

Besides the large number of casualties and massive displacements, basic supplies are running low for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents due to the Israeli siege.