The Hague: The United States has dismissed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, a White House National Security Council spokesperson announced on Thursday.
“The United States firmly opposes the Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants targeting senior Israeli leaders,” the spokesperson stated. “We are deeply troubled by the Prosecutor’s hasty pursuit of these warrants and the procedural flaws underpinning this decision.” The U.S. is currently consulting with its partners to determine the next steps, the statement added.The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on Thursday targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to the Gaza conflict.
The court stated there are reasonable grounds to hold Netanyahu and Gallant accountable for crimes including murder, persecution, and using starvation as a weapon in what it described as a "systematic attack" on Gaza’s civilian population. It highlighted the severe impact of the blockade on Gaza, which deprived civilians of essential resources such as food, water, electricity, and medical supplies, leading to widespread deaths, including among children.
The arrest warrant for Al-Masri cites responsibility for mass killings during the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, as well as charges of rape and hostage-taking. Israel claims to have killed Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, in a July airstrike, though Hamas has not confirmed this. The ICC prosecution indicated it would continue investigating his status.
Israel strongly rejected the ICC's jurisdiction and dismissed the accusations as baseless. Prime Minister Netanyahu denounced the decision as “antisemitic,” while Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described it as “absurd and illegitimate.”
The move has drawn mixed international reactions. Hamas welcomed the warrants, viewing them as a step toward accountability for alleged Israeli war crimes. Gaza residents expressed cautious optimism that the decision might pave the way for justice. Meanwhile, the United States and other non-signatories of the ICC, including Russia, China, and India, criticized the court’s actions, with the U.S. calling the warrants “fundamentally flawed.”
The ICC relies on cooperation from its 124 member states for enforcement, as it lacks a police force to carry out arrests. Despite limited enforcement power, the warrants restrict international travel for the accused and amplify calls for justice in the ongoing humanitarian crisis.