The US criticized information that the ICC was preparing to issue an arrest warrant for the Israeli
"It is shameful that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is said to be planning to issue baseless and illegal arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials of this country," President US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement on April 29.
According to Mr. Johnson, instead of "mistargeting Israel", the ICC should focus on Hamas as well as pro-Iranian groups and prosecute them for "committing terrible war crimes". "Such lawless actions by the ICC will directly undermine America's national security interests. If
President Joe Biden's administration does not act to prevent it, the ICC could create and hold unprecedented power." to issue arrest warrants for American political leaders, diplomats and soldiers, thereby endangering our country's sovereignty," the US House of Representatives Chairman added.
His statement was made in the context of many media outlets reporting that Israeli officials increasingly believe that the ICC is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials and possibly Hamas leaders. According to the New York Times, Israeli officials may be accused of "obstructing the provision of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip" and "reacting too cruelly" to the Hamas raid on Israel.
NBC News on April 29 quoted an Israeli official saying the country is working through diplomatic channels to prevent the ICC from issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and senior military officials. According to Israeli officials, the ICC could issue an arrest warrant "as soon as this week".
ICC does not confirm or deny the information. The court said it was "carrying out an independent investigation into the situation in the State of Palestine" and had "no comment at this stage".
President Joe Biden's administration said on April 29 that it does not support this investigation and that the ICC also has no jurisdiction over this situation.
Neither Israel nor the US recognize the jurisdiction of the court based in The Hague, Netherlands. However, an arrest warrant could put Israeli officials at risk of arrest in ICC member states.
"The Biden administration must immediately and unequivocally demand that the ICC abandon the issuance of arrest warrants and the US should use all available tools to prevent such terrible acts," the US House of Representatives Chairman emphasized.
After the Hamas raid in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, Tel Aviv responded with a large-scale attack campaign on the Gaza Strip, which has so far left 34,535 people dead and more than 77,700 injured, according to medical authorities. regional economy. Palestinians are suffering from severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine
