US President Joe Biden has strongly criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, labelling it as ‘outrageous’. Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Biden reiterated his unwavering support for Israel and emphasized that there is no ‘equivalence’ between Israel and Hamas.
The announcement from ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan on Monday revealed that arrest warrants were sought for both Israeli and Hamas leaders in connection with alleged crimes during a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel and Israel’s subsequent conflict with Gaza. Khan asserted that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant bear criminal responsibility for “war crimes and crimes against humanity.” Similarly, arrest warrants were requested for Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, also known as Deif.
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In response, President Biden issued a statement condemning the ICC prosecutor’s action, stating, “The ICC prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous. And let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.” Biden’s remarks come as a reaffirmation of the longstanding US support for Israel’s security interests.
Furthermore, during Jewish American Heritage Month, Biden addressed concerns over allegations of genocide in the conflict, specifically referencing a case at the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding South Africa’s accusations against Israel. Biden clarified, “What’s happening is not genocide,” indicating a distinction between the ICC’s jurisdiction and the ongoing conflict dynamics.
Additionally, the US State Department released its statement, denouncing the ICC Prosecutor’s announcement as ‘shameful’. The statement rejected any equivalence between Israel and Hamas, categorizing Hamas as a “brutal terrorist organization” responsible for atrocities against Jews. The US emphasized that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the matter and criticized the Prosecutor for not allowing Israel sufficient opportunity to conduct its own investigations into the allegations.
