US Accused of Hypocrisy by Russia Regarding ICC’s Possible Israel Arrest Warrants

Russia has accused the United States of hypocrisy for opposing the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation of Israel while supporting the court’s warrant for the arrest of President Vladimir Putin.

The ICC, which has the authority to charge individuals with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, is currently looking into Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border attack and Israel’s prolonged military campaign in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

A spokesperson for the White House, Karine Jean-Pierre, stated on Monday that the United States does not back the ICC’s investigation of Israel and questions the court’s jurisdiction.

President Joe Biden previously expressed his approval of the ICC’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin, citing alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine that have been shared with the court.

Russia has dismissed the warrant against Putin as a baseless attempt by Western powers to tarnish the country’s reputation, strongly denying any war crimes in Ukraine. On the other hand, Ukraine accuses Russia of committing war crimes, with Russia accusing the West of ignoring Ukraine’s actions, a claim refuted by Kyiv.

“Washington fully supported, if not encouraged, the issuance of ICC warrants against Russian leaders,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova in a post on Telegram. She criticized the U.S. for rejecting the legitimacy of the ICC when it comes to itself and its allies, deeming this stance as intellectually absurd.

The Kremlin has denounced the arrest warrant against Putin as outrageous and legally invalid, citing Russia’s non-membership in the ICC treaty. Israel, similarly, is not a signatory to the ICC, while the Palestinian territories were granted membership as a state in 2015.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed that any ICC rulings will not impact Israel’s actions but could establish a dangerous precedent. Israeli officials are concerned about potential arrest warrants against Netanyahu and other top figures for alleged breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza.

Reports from Israeli media suggest that the ICC may also be considering warrants for Hamas leaders.