Israel's hawkish right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is treading increasingly thin ice after the International Criminal Court's prosecutor on Monday sought an arrest warrant for him over "war crimes" in Gaza.

The silver-haired 73-year-old, known by his nickname "Bibi", has dominated his country's politics for decades but now faces mounting isolation both at home and abroad over his handling of the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Netanyahu has faced staunch criticism for the security failures that led to Hamas's unprecedented attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

He has remained steadfast in his vow to "eliminate" Hamas, overseeing Israel's bloody response to the attack that has ravaged Gaza and killed at least 35,562 people, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

The International Criminal Court's prosecutor Karim Khan said Monday he had applied for an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes including "wilful killing", "extermination and/or murder" and "starvation".

Netanyhau has stood the course in Gaza, sending troops into the far-southern city of Rafah this month in defiance of pleas from Israel's main international ally, the United States.

"If we have to stand alone, we will stand alone," Netanyahu said.

- Wily strategist -

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