Biden, Netanyahu slam ICC after chief prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israeli PM, defence minister

US President Joe Biden, on Monday (May 20) slammed an application by the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged atrocities in Gaza war.

‘There is no equivalence’: Biden

“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,” said Biden, in a statement.

He added, “We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”

WATCH |ICC Prosecutor accuses Netanyahu, Gallant of war crimes in Gaza

Earlier on Monday, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, as well as three Hamas leaders – Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri (Deif) and Ismail Haniyeh – on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The reiteration of support by the US comes despite recent disagreements between Washington and Tel Aviv over Israel’s conduct amid the Gaza war, particularly after the Israeli forces launched an offensive in the southern city of Rafah.

‘I reject with disgust’: Netanyahu

Netanyahu said that the decision of the ICC prosecutor was absurd and that he rejected “with disgust” the “comparison of the prosecutor in the Hague between democratic Israel and the mass murderers of Hamas.”

Also Read |International Criminal Court prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Netanyahu, 3 Hamas leaders

He added, “With what audacity do you compare Hamas that murdered, burned, butchered, decapitated, raped and kidnapped our brothers and sisters with the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers fighting a just war unlike any other.”

He also went on to call the ICC chief prosecutor’s move a new kind of antisemitism and said, “Citizens of Israel, I promise you one thing – the attempt to tie our hands will fail.”

Impact on hostage deal and ceasefire agreement

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a separate statement, also denounced the “shameful” bid by the ICC and said that Washington “reject(s) the prosecutor’s equivalence of Israel with Hamas.”

Blinken added that “this decision does nothing to help, and could jeopardise, ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement that would get hostages out and surge humanitarian assistance in.”

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According to Blinken, Israel was prepared to cooperate with ICC.

The prosecutor, he said, was scheduled to visit Israel as early as next week, but he instead went on cable television to announce the charges.

“These and other circumstances call into question the legitimacy and credibility of this investigation,” said Blinken.

The ICC prosecutor’s office said it suspected all five – Israeli PM, defence minister and Hamas leaders – bore criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Israel or the Gaza Strip.

(With inputs from agencies)