Squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) called for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, citing violations of the international Genocide Convention.
In a press release on Tuesday, Tlaib accused the Israeli government of carrying out a ground invasion of Rafah and blamed the attack on funds provided by the United States.
“Just after our government sent more than $14 billion to Israel’s apartheid regime without any human rights conditions, Prime Minister Netanyahu launched a ground invasion of Rafah to continue the slaughter of Palestinians. “It’s not a coincidence. The ammunition and bombs were paid for by our taxes,” she said. “More than 1.5 million Palestinian civilians, including more than 600,000 children, are trapped in Rafah, living in makeshift tents without food, clean water, sanitation, medicine or any other form of shelter.”
Tlaib accused Israeli forces of killing more than 35,000 Palestinians in Rafah and displacing their families, subjecting them to further “unimaginable human suffering.”
Biden warns Netanyahu against Rafah invasion as Israel prepares for action
Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib on Tuesday called for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (AP/Jose Luis Magana)
He also said in a release that many of his colleagues would express concern about “crimes against humanity” in Rafah, even though those same colleagues voted in favor of giving Prime Minister Netanyahu the means to do so. warned voters.
“Make no mistake about it: they consent to these atrocities, and our country is an active participant in the genocide,” Tlaib said. “Prime Minister Netanyahu has been clear for months about his intention to invade Rafah, but most of my colleagues and President Biden have sent even more weapons to enable the massacre.”
She insisted that Prime Minister Netanyahu will remain in power as long as the fighting continues, adding that the US must stop funding to Israel.
“Now more than ever, we must call on President Biden to end all U.S. military funding to Israel’s apartheid regime and facilitate an immediate and permanent ceasefire, including a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of all hostages. “and arbitrarily detained Palestinians,” Tlaib wrote.
“I urge the ICC. [International Criminal Court] Promptly issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials and finally hold them accountable for this genocide, as clearly justified by their well-documented violations of the Genocide Convention under international law. Should. ”
Israel asks Palestinians to evacuate Rafah ahead of expected ground operation in Hamas stronghold
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a Cabinet meeting at the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Reuters/Ronen Zvulun/Pool/File Photo)
Mr. Tlaib’s office has announced on Fox News Digital whether Hamas leaders responsible for the atrocities that occurred in Israel on October 7, 2023 should also be held accountable for their actions and arrested. did not respond to a request for comment.
Despite “Squad” members’ calls for action, 12 US senators warn ICC prosecutor Karim AA Khan that any action against Prime Minister Netanyahu or other Israeli officials will lead to severe sanctions did.
In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, 12 senators, led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), told Khan that Netanyahu’s arrest was not just unjustified. It also lacked legal basis.
Israeli military gains operational control of Gaza side of Rafah crossing, IDF announces
“The ICC seeks to punish Israel for acting in legitimate self-defense against Iranian-backed invaders.In fact, in your own words, after the October 7th attack, you “I witnessed “scenes of calculated brutality” carried out by Hamas,” the letter said. “These arrest warrants align the ICC with the largest state sponsor of terrorism and its proxies.To be clear, there is no moral equivalence between Hamas terrorism and a legitimate Israeli response. do not have.”
The letter informed Khan that the ICC would be prohibited from proceeding with the case in any case unless the relevant governments were willing or able to police themselves.
“Issuing a warrant would call into question the legitimacy of Israel’s laws, legal system, and democratic form of government,” the letter said. “Issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders is not only unjust, it exposes the organization’s hypocrisy and double standards.”
Israel launches ‘targeted’ attack against Hamas in Rafah
Karim Ahmed Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, speaks at a press conference at the Ministry of Justice. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File)
The senators told Khan that his office has access to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and other Iranian officials, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other Syrian officials, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and others. Hamas officials said they had not issued a warrant against the People’s General Secretary. Republic of China, Xi Jinping, or other Chinese officials.
The letter also reminded Mr. Khan that neither the United States nor Israel are member states of the ICC and any action against them is outside the organization’s jurisdiction.
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“If you issue an arrest warrant for Israeli leadership, we will interpret this as a threat not only to Israeli sovereignty but also to the sovereignty of the United States,” the senators said. “The United States will not tolerate politicized attacks by the ICC against our allies. If you target Israel, we target you.”
The letter warned that any action against either country would result in the end of all U.S. support for the ICC, sanctions on ICC officials and associates, and a ban on Khan and his family from entering the United States.
