Graham Condemns ICC Arrest Warrants as ‘Outrageous’

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized the prosecution team of the International Criminal Court for seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it “a slap in the face” to the country’s independent judiciary.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan sought warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri (Mohammed Deif), and Ismail Haniyeh.

Khan told CNN that Netanyahu and Gallant face charges relating to war crimes such as causing extermination, starvation as a method of war, and deliberately targeting civilians.

Khan added: “The fact that Hamas fighters need water doesn’t justify denying water from all the civilian population of Gaza.”‘

Graham, in a statement on social media, called the decision to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant “outrageous” and “truly a slap in the face to the independent judiciary of Israel.”

Graham also claimed that Khan “lied” to U.S. legislators, saying that he was misled about the timeline and consultation process with Israel.

Graham vowed to work with colleagues to levy sanctions against the ICC.