(IntegrityTimes.com) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) is apparently considering issuing arrest warrants for top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, regarding Israel’s conduct in their ongoing war with Hamas.
Israeli officials say that Prime Minister Netanyahu has reportedly contacted President Biden asking for help for preventing the ICC from moving forward with the warrants. Some are concerned the warrants could harm Israel’s international reputation, while others worry, they could disrupt negotiations already in progress.
The ICC is an intergovernmental organization that investigates and tries individuals charged with crimes of concern to the international community. War crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are among that the crimes the ICC focuses on. Neither Israel nor the United States are members of the ICC, and do not officially recognize their authority. The Palestinian territories, however, have had member status in the ICC since 2015. Democratic strategist Joel Rubin has accused the ICC of having “entrenched biases” against Israel.
On Friday April 26, Prime Minister Netanyahu took to the social media platform X to condemn the ICC. In his post, he suggested that the ICC would be setting a “dangerous precedent” that could threaten all democracies. He added that Israel would not be bowing to the ICC’s attempts to undermine their inherent right to defend themselves. Some have criticized Israel for not agreeing to a ceasefire, but negotiations have been continually stymied by Hamas refusing to release the remaining hostages they took on October 7.
Spokesman for the Justice Democrats, Usamah Andrabi, scoffed at the idea that Israel would allow ICC arrest warrants to derail a ceasefire agreement. He also disagrees with the official Whitehouse statement that ICC has no jurisdiction in this situation. According to Andrabi, the ICC are doing their job and holding people accountable. White House investigation. U.S. officials say that the ICC is being pressured by NGOs and several ICC member states to issue the warrants against Israel’s prime minister and other Israeli officials.
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