Fox’s first – Three House Republicans from New York wrote a letter Tuesday urging the Biden administration to stop the International Criminal Court’s “sham” indictment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli government officials on war crimes charges. wrote.
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (RN.Y.) leads a letter co-signed by House Republican Committee Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.) and Rep. Marcus Molinaro (RN.Y.) stood. President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have been warned that the ICC is planning to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yov Gallant, and several senior Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) officials. “Should be reported.”
D’Esposito, Stefanik, and Molinaro said, “As the Israeli government continues its military operations in the Gaza Strip with the goal of annihilating the terrorist organization Hamas, the United States must continue to steadfastly support our greatest ally. ” he wrote. “In addressing these accusations, both countries must ensure that mistakes like the abandonment of Israel at the UN Security Council in March 2024 are not repeated.”
Critics accused Biden of abandoning hostages held by Israel and Hamas after his administration failed to veto a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for a ceasefire late last month. , further straining relations with the Biden administration, one of America’s closest allies. middle east.
“The ICC’s misguided attempt to prosecute Israeli government leaders in the midst of a legitimate defensive war against Hamas terrorists would be extremely troubling. I urge President Biden and his entire administration to We call on the United States to take all possible steps to protect the United States and its allies, and we urge the ICC to investigate the masterminds of the October 7 terrorist attacks,” D’Esposito said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Stated.
Tuesday’s letter points out that the ICC has never been recognized by any presidential administration, and neither the United States nor Israel have ever joined the tribunal, which meets in The Hague, Netherlands.
“If the courts decide to proceed with these false prosecutions based on accusations by terrorist organizations or corrupt foreign governments,” the three New York Republicans warned, “there will definitely be consequences,” warning the Biden administration. If those involved in this prosecution come forward, which they have “called for legal action to be considered,” they will face the harshest penalties. ”
Israel is concerned that ICC may issue arrest warrant for Netanyahu, senior officials say: report
House Republicans called on President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to pressure the ICC against issuing warrants to Israeli officials. (Getty Images)
“The leaders of our greatest allies have been accused of war crimes, ranging from unreasonable force to intentionally starving Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip,” the letter said. It’s dark. “These accusations could not be further from the truth. Civilian casualty rates reported during ongoing operations in the Gaza Strip are among the lowest in urban warfare. Even though the Gaza Ministry of Health Even if you believe the numbers from , it’s still true.” ”
Lawmakers said Israel was seeking to allow “the most fully vetted humanitarian assistance possible under the current security situation, involving the provision of direct aid from the United States and its allies,” and added, “The Gaza Strip Regarding attacks by terrorist groups in… As humanitarian aid piers are being built by U.S. military personnel, the ICC should consider who really doesn’t want aid to reach civilians. ”
“There is no miscommunication between Israel and barbaric terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other members of the Palestinian Joint Operations Room, which directly targeted and massacred Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023. There should be no equivalence,” the letter states. Say. “In operations in the Gaza Strip, Israel has sought to minimize civilian casualties.In terrorist attacks in Israel, members of the Palestinian Joint Operations Room do everything possible to maximize civilian casualties. I did my best.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the ICC may issue a warrant for war crimes against him within days. (Leo Correa/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Critics accuse Biden of abandoning Israel, holding hostage as tensions with Jewish state rise
Esposito, Stefanik and Molinaro told the Biden administration that the United States “must continue to put pressure on the ICC to ensure that these warrants are not issued against Israeli government officials.”
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“The ICC’s time and resources would be far better spent prosecuting the leaders of the Gaza Strip terrorist organization, whose members live in luxurious apartment complexes in Qatar, far from the conflict. “His involvement in war crimes is well documented,” the letter said. “If they decide to move forward with executing these arrest warrants, it will be clear that the administration supports our ally Israel, rejects any attempts to execute these arrest warrants, and engages in this sham prosecution. We look forward to prompt responses and immediate action. ”
The letter comes as Israeli authorities grow concerned that the ICC may issue arrest warrants against Israeli officials as the Jewish state continues its war with Hamas, which has continued for more than six months.
The ICC was established in 2002 as the last permanent court to prosecute those responsible for the world’s most heinous atrocities, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and crimes of aggression. Although the United Nations General Assembly supported the ICC, the court is independent.
Representative Anthony D’Esposito (RN.Y.) (center) and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.) (right) express their support for the ICC to indict Israeli officials for war crimes. A crime he collaborated with in a letter demanding the regime stop it. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The ICC, which has no police force, relies on member states to apprehend suspects, which has proven to be a major obstacle to prosecutions, according to the Associated Press.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social platform X on Friday that Israel “will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right to self-defense.”
“While the ICC will not influence Israel’s actions, it would set a dangerous precedent,” he wrote.
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Israel’s Foreign Ministry said late Sunday that it had notified diplomatic missions abroad of “rumors” that a court could order the arrest of senior Israeli political and military officials.
Fox News’ Benjamin Weinthal and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
