President Joe Biden denounced an “outrageous” move by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a statement, Biden expressed staunch support for Israel, condemning any implication of equivalence between Israel and Hamas.
The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, aims to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and top Hamas leaders for suspected war crimes and crimes against humanity. Despite the US and Israel’s non-membership in the ICC, Biden asserted unwavering solidarity with Israel against perceived threats to its security.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed Biden’s sentiments, labeling the ICC’s actions as “shameful” and warning of potential disruptions to ceasefire negotiations for the Gaza conflict. Blinken emphasized the US’s rejection of any comparison between Israel and Hamas.
Amid bipartisan outrage in US lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats contemplated legislative retaliation against the ICC. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the ICC’s decision as “baseless and illegitimate,” accusing Biden of applying pressure on Israel.
Despite tensions over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the recent withholding of a bomb shipment by the US, Biden’s support for Netanyahu remains steadfast. However, the White House refrained from commenting on potential sanctions against the ICC.
While the US opposes the ICC’s targeting of Israel, it continues to support the court’s investigation into alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin affirmed ongoing assistance to the ICC concerning Ukraine despite denouncing its actions regarding Israel.
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