Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has called for a death sentence for Netanyahu for his "war crimes" in Gaza and Lebanon, saying the arrest warrant recently issued by the International Court of Justice is not enough.

Khamenei made the remarks in an address to a group of volunteer militia of so-called Basij from across the country at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiya, where the Leader usually meets the public on November 25. The Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia within the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), whose members are called "Basijis."

"The fools should not think that bombing homes, hospitals and public gatherings is a sign of their victory. No one in the world sees this as a victory," Khamenei told hundreds of Basij militia members in Tehran.

"The enemy has not been and will not be victorious in Gaza and Lebanon despite all their war crimes," he said, adding that "an arrest warrant for Netanyahu is not enough – a death sentence should be issued for Netanyahu and these criminal leaders."

Khamenei argued that Israel's military actions were having the opposite of their intended effect, serving to strengthen and intensify resistance. "When a proud Palestinian or Lebanese youth, from any background, sees they face bombardment and death whether they are fighting or not, they see no path except resistance and struggle," he said.

"Therefore these criminal fools are expanding the resistance front with their own hands," Khamenei said, adding that this expansion was "an absolute and unavoidable necessity."

"Basij is primarily a school of thought and an idea … whose foundations are belief in God and self-confidence," he said, adding that Basijis counter national humiliation and bring honour to the country.

Khamenei also said: "The Basiji, with faith in his goal of establishing an Islamic society and Islamic civilisation and establishing justice, moves forward without fear of death and with the desire for martyrdom; just as brilliant examples of youth's enthusiasm for jihad and martyrdom were seen in the Sacred Defence [Iran-Iraq War] and defence of the shrine [referring to Iran's involvement in Syria].

He later highlighted the role of Basij forces in standing up to Israel, the archfoe that Iranian authorities believe must be annihilated and replaced with the state of Palestine.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has also recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant based on accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023.

Khamenei said the warrant was not enough, calling for a "death sentence for Netanyahu and criminal leaders of this regime."

The ICC has also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif on similar charges to those brought against Netanyahu and Gallant. Khamenei, however, made no mention of this warrant.

Earlier on November 24, the United Arab Emirates authorities confirmed the discovery of Moldovan-Israeli dual national Rabbi Zvi Hakohen Kogan's body following an investigation into his disappearance that began on November 21.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office and Foreign Affairs Ministry jointly announced the finding on November 24, characterising the incident as an antisemitic terrorist attack and pinned the incident on an Iranian plot using Uzbek hitmen.