President Biden condemned the International Criminal Court’s decision to proceed with arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as “outrageous.”
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said earlier on Monday that his office had been investigating Netanyahu, Gallant and other Hamas leaders for committing “war crimes and crimes against humanity” since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7. It said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that he had done so.
“The ICC prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant against an Israeli leader is outrageous,” Biden said in a statement Monday afternoon.
Biden added: “Let me be clear: No matter what this prosecutor says, there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas.” The president went on to say, “We will always support Israel against threats to its security.”
ICC seeks arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and Hamas leaders for ‘war crimes’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and President Biden on Monday called the ICC’s move to obtain an arrest warrant for Netanyahu “outrageous.” ((Fox News/Getty Images))
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also condemned the ICC’s announcement, saying in a separate statement on Monday that the State Department “rejects this statement.”[p]Rosekueter equated Israel and Hamas,” he said, calling it “disgraceful.”
“The United States has made it clear well before the current dispute that the ICC has no jurisdiction over this matter. The ICC was established by the State Parties as a court with limited jurisdiction. The restriction is rooted in the principle of subsidiarity, and there is no such restriction.Prosecutors rush to request these arrest warrants, rather than giving Israel’s judicial system a full and timely opportunity to proceed. “It appears to have been applied here during the middle of this,” Blinken argued.
Democratic Party split over ICC prosecutor seeking arrest warrant
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant pictured in the West Bank in August 2023. The ICC is also seeking an arrest warrant for Mr. Gallant. (Amos Ben Gershom (GPO)/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
In other matters, Blinken said, “prosecutors have delayed national investigations and cooperated with other countries to give them time to investigate,” adding, “They have denied the same opportunity to Israel, which continues to investigate allegations against its officials.” It pointed out.
“There are also very troubling process issues. Despite not being a member of the tribunal, Israel has been willing to cooperate with the prosecution. In fact, the prosecution itself will be visiting Israel next week to discuss the investigation. , the Israeli government,” Blinken continued. “Prosecution officials were scheduled to land in Israel today to coordinate the visit. Israel was informed that they did not board the plane at about the same time prosecutors went on cable television to announce the charges. and other circumstances cast doubt on the prosecution’s “legitimacy and credibility of this investigation.” ”
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar waves to a crowd in Gaza. Mr. Sinwar is one of three Hamas leaders for whom the ICC is considering obtaining arrest warrants. (Photo by: Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Blinken also said the decision “does nothing to support continued efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement to rescue hostages and expand humanitarian assistance, a goal the United States continues to pursue relentlessly.” , it could jeopardize the situation.”
