US and Israel Condemn ICC's Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu and Gallant

In a powerful joint rebuke, US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the International Criminal Court's (ICC) call for arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas terror chief Yahye Sinwar. The ICC's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, had demanded the warrants, sparking intense backlash from both nations.

President Biden described the move as "outrageous" and "shameful," asserting, “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.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed this sentiment, stating the US "fundamentally rejects the announcement."

In a video message, Netanyahu blasted the warrant as “absurd and false,” emphasizing that it targeted the entire State of Israel and its defense forces. “With what chutzpah do you dare compare the monsters of Hamas to the soldiers of the IDF, the most moral army in the world?” Netanyahu demanded. He defended the IDF's actions as part of a just and moral fight against Hamas, a group responsible for heinous atrocities.

The ICC's request also included arrest warrants for Hamas' political leader in Qatar, Ismail Haniyeh, and military head, Mohammed Deif, on war crimes charges. Blinken lambasted the ICC for drawing false equivalences between Israel and Hamas, calling the comparison “shameful.”

Blinken further criticized the ICC’s legitimacy, noting that neither Israel nor the US are parties to the Rome Statute, which established the court. He questioned the integrity of the ICC's investigation, revealing that Israel was informed of the charges just as the prosecutor went public with them, casting doubt on the investigation's credibility.

Israel's Knesset reacted strongly, with an overwhelming majority signing a petition condemning the ICC’s actions as an "unerasable historical crime" and a blatant expression of antisemitism. “Eighty years after the Holocaust, no one will prevent the Jewish state from defending itself,” the petition declared.

In response to the ICC's actions, Israel is expected to lobby the US Congress to impose sanctions against the ICC. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) vowed to work across party lines to levy sanctions against Prosecutor Khan, describing him as “drunk with self-importance.” Former US national security adviser John Bolton also called for US sanctions, underscoring the ICC's "fundamental illegitimacy."

The ICC's decision drew sharp criticism from European leaders as well. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the move “appalling and completely unacceptable,” highlighting that it was Hamas's unprovoked terrorist attack that led to the current conflict. However, some European officials, like Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, supported the ICC’s actions, emphasizing the need for accountability for crimes committed in Gaza.

As tensions escalate, the US and Israel stand united in their condemnation of the ICC’s arrest warrants, defending Israel’s right to protect its citizens and emphasizing the moral distinction between the IDF and Hamas.

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