Biden Stands by Israel Amid ICC’s Call for Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu’s Actions in Gaza

May 21, 2024 TruthUSA

President Joe Biden has shown support for Israel following the request by International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan for arrest warrants targeting Israeli and Hamas leaders over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“Let me be clear, we reject the ICC’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders,” President Biden said at a Jewish American Heritage Month event at the White House on Monday.

President Biden refuted the claims made by the prosecutor, asserting that Israeli leaders have not committed war crimes against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, stating: “What’s happening [in the enclave] is not genocide.”

“There is no comparison between Israel and Hamas,” he emphasized, adding that Washington remains committed to Israel’s security.

Mr. Khan on May 20 requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of enabling the Israeli army to use starvation as a method of warfare in response to Hamas’s attacks and for allowing attacks targeting civilian populations in Gaza.

“We believe that the crimes charged were part of a deliberate and systematic assault on the Palestinian civilian population as part of State policy. These offenses, in our view, continue to this day,” Mr. Khan stated in this statement.

Blinken Questions ICC Prosecutor’s Investigation

Secretary of State Antony Blinken denounced the warrant applications, condemning the equating of Israeli leaders with Hamas terrorists.

“It is abhorrent. Hamas, a brutal terrorist organization, committed a heinous attack against Jews and continues to hold innocent individuals captive, including Americans,” he stated.

Mr. Blinken expressed concerns that the prosecutor’s actions might hinder peace negotiations, which aim to secure the release of hostages and improve humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza.

He reiterated that the court lacks jurisdiction over the Israel-Hamas conflict, noting Israel’s willingness to cooperate despite not being an ICC member.

Mr. Blinken also mentioned the failed meeting between Mr. Khan’s team and Israeli officials, questioning the credibility and legitimacy of the investigation.

The Israeli leader denounced the warrant applications, describing them as an injustice and an attempt to hinder Israel’s right to self-defense.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem, on Feb. 18, 2024. (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)

Mr. Netanyahu criticized the prosecutor for drawing a false moral equivalency between Israeli leaders and Hamas officials, comparing it to equating President Bush with Osama Bin Laden after 9/11 or FDR with Hitler during World War II.

“Despite the baseless allegations, Israel will continue to engage in this conflict in accordance with international law,” he asserted.

Ryan Morgan contributed to this report.

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