Israeli PM accuses ICC prosecutor of 'anti-Semitism'
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu accused ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan of "anti-Semitism", after the official obtained a warrant for his arrest in connection with the Gaza conflict.
"The unreasonable and erroneous arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor is not only directly against the Israeli prime minister and defense minister, but also against the entire State of Israel," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 20. "This order is also directly against Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers who are fighting against Hamas."
The prime minister's comments came after ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan confirmed seeking arrest warrants for him, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, commander of Hamas al-Qassam brigade Mohammed Deif and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. The ICC panel of judges will consider the application for an arrest warrant.
"How dare you compare Hamas to IDF soldiers, Hamas crimes to IDF soldiers fighting a just war," the Israeli prime minister added.
Netanyahu called the ICC's chief prosecutor's placement of Israeli leaders next to Hamas' leader "abhorrent," calling it an example of "new antisemitism" that has moved from university campuses to the ICC. He mentioned the recent protest of American students at universities across the country in support of the Palestinians.
The Israeli prime minister also assured the public that the ICC would not be able to prevent Tel Aviv from abolishing Hamas and achieving a "total victory."
Asked whether the U.S. considers Khan's decision antisemitic, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said "this is not a conclusion reached by President Joe Biden's administration."
According to Khan, the charges against the Hamas leader group include "massacre, murder, hostage-taking, rape and sexual assault of prisoners, torture, brutal treatment." The charges against Israel's prime minister and defense minister include "causing massacres, mistreatment, causing famine as a means of war, blocking humanitarian aid and deliberately targeting civilians in conflict."
If the ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and Hamas leaders, the 124 ICC member states are obliged to arrest them and transfer them to the Netherlands for trial if they set foot on the territory.
Both Israel and Hamas criticized the ICC chief prosecutor's decision. US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson threatened to sanction the ICC after Khan's move, while France declared its support for the independence of the International Criminal Court.
US House speaker threatens ICC sanctions
Speaker Johnson said Congress was considering all options, including sanctions, after ICC prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over Israel and the United States, and the whole world should condemn their baseless and illegal decisions. International administrative agencies must not use legal warfare to overthrow the rule-abiding democratic leadership," U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement today.
The statement came after ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan announced that he was seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nentanyahu and the Hamas leader on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Johnson said the ICC's move was prompted by President Joe Biden's administration's recent pressure on Israel. He stressed that Israel is "waging a just war for survival."
"In the context of the White House's failure to show leadership, Congress is considering all options, including imposing sanctions on the ICC and ensuring that the leadership of the agency suffers the consequences if it pursues this decision. If the ICC threatens the Israeli leadership, the US leadership could become the next target," the statement said.
Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the same day that U.S. lawmakers were working on a bill to sanction the ICC, based on legislation proposed by Senator Tom Cotton in February.
Cotton and several U.S. lawmakers also sent a letter earlier this month to Khan, warning that Washington has legislation passed in 2002 that allows for "all necessary and appropriate measures" to protect U.S. citizens and allies arrested by the ICC.
President Biden earlier rejected accusations that Tel Aviv's campaign in the Gaza Strip was "genocide" and criticized the ICC prosecutor for seeking a warrant for the Israeli leader's arrest. "Whatever the warrant implies, there are no similarities between Israel and Hamas," Biden said.
Khan said the charges against the Hamas leader group included "massacre, murder, hostage-taking, rape and sexual assault of prisoners, torture, brutal treatment."
The charges against Israel's prime minister and defense minister include "causing massacres, mistreatment, causing famine as a means of war, blocking humanitarian aid and deliberately targeting civilians in conflict." The ICC panel of judges will consider Khan's application for an arrest warrant.
The Biden administration is facing growing political pressure over how to resolve the Gaza conflict, as Israel's campaign inflicts massive civilian casualties on Palestinian civilians and brings the region close to a humanitarian crisis.
