United States President Joe Biden on Monday sharply criticized the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, is seeking warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant, and top Hamas leaders on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In a statement, Biden called the application “outrageous,” emphasizing the distinction between Israel and Hamas.
“The ICC prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous.
And let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas,” Biden said.
“We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”
Neither the United States nor Israel recognizes the jurisdiction of the ICC, and both countries have rejected its authority.
Despite recent tensions over Israel’s military actions in Gaza, Biden reiterated US support for Israel’s security.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also condemned the ICC’s move, warning it could undermine efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Blinken described the application as “shameful” and harmful to peace efforts.
“The United States fundamentally rejects the announcement today from the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court,” Blinken said.
“We reject the prosecutor’s equivalence of Israel with Hamas.
It is shameful.”
Blinken added that the ICC’s decision could jeopardize ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian assistance.
“This decision does nothing to help, and could jeopardize, ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement that would get hostages out and surge humanitarian assistance in,” he stated.
The move has provoked bipartisan outrage among US lawmakers, who are considering a legislative response.
The White House has not ruled out possible retaliatory actions, including sanctions against the ICC, although it has not made any definitive statements on the matter.
In contrast to its stance on Israel, the US has supported the ICC’s efforts to prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin affirmed that the US will continue to assist the ICC in its investigation of Ukraine.
“Regarding the question of whether or not we will continue to provide support to the ICC concerning crimes that are committed in Ukraine, yes, we continue that work,” Austin told reporters.
