SPEAKING at a Jewish Heritage Month celebration in Washington, DC, US President Joe Biden has denounced the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli leaders.
“Let me be clear: we reject the ICC’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders. Whatever these warrants may imply, there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas,” Joe Biden, US President stated.
This follows the ICC ‘s move to pursue arrest warrants for Israeli PM Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant, alongside Hamas leaders, on war crimes charges.
Netanyahu condemned the ICC’s order as “absurd and false,” while Hamas criticized the ICC for equating victims with aggressors.
“And it’s clear, Israel wants to do all it can to ensure civilian protection. But let me be clear: contrary to allegations against Israel made by the International Court of Justice, what’s happening is not genocide. We reject that. And we will stand with Israel against threats to its security,” Biden added.
A panel of ICC judges will review the requests.
Although neither Israel nor the US is a member of the ICC, the decision could severely restrict the travel of those involved to any of the 124 countries that are party to the court, including key allies like the UK and Germany.
