US lawmakers are pushing back fiercely after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. While the US has long been a staunch ally of Israel, this move has sparked outrage in Washington, with many politicians questioning the legitimacy of the court and issuing threats against its operations.
On Thursday, the ICC pre-trial judges issued the arrest warrants, accusing Netanyahu and Gallant of using starvation as a method of warfare and committing crimes against humanity, including murder and persecution. The court cited Israel’s siege of Gaza, which allegedly created conditions that could lead to the destruction of a significant portion of the civilian population.
Despite the ICC’s ruling, the US government has reiterated its rejection of the court’s jurisdiction. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated, “We fundamentally reject the court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials,” and raised concerns about what she called “troubling process errors” in the ICC’s actions. Jean-Pierre also reiterated the US stance that the ICC has no authority over Israeli officials, as Israel is not a member of the court. However, the ICC has maintained its jurisdiction on the grounds that Palestine, where the crimes are alleged to have occurred, is a state party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
In response to the ICC’s actions, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have voiced strong opposition. Senator Lindsey Graham, a key ally of President-elect Donald Trump, has called for sanctions against the ICC. The US House of Representatives passed a bill earlier this year to impose such sanctions, though it has not yet been taken up by the Senate. Graham has urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to advance the bill and for President Biden to sign it into law.
Congressman Mike Waltz, who will serve as Trump’s national security adviser, criticized the ICC, calling its actions “antisemitic” and vowing a “strong response” from the incoming administration. Meanwhile, Senator Tom Cotton, a vocal critic of the ICC, invoked a 2002 US law, the American Service-Members’ Protection Act, which allows for military action to protect Americans or their allies from ICC arrest warrants. Cotton referred to the court as a “kangaroo court” and threatened severe repercussions for those attempting to enforce the arrest warrants.
While the Biden administration and many Republicans are staunchly defending Israel, other figures, like Representative Rashida Tlaib, have been outspoken in their support of the ICC’s actions. Tlaib, who has long criticized Israeli policies, hailed the arrest warrants as a crucial step toward accountability for war crimes, arguing that the US can no longer ignore its complicity in Israel’s actions.
Adding to the tension, Abdullah Hammoud, the mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, which has a large Arab-American population, announced that his city would enforce the ICC warrants if Netanyahu or Gallant entered its jurisdiction. Hammoud’s declaration reflects the broader legal challenges Netanyahu and Gallant may face globally, even as Israel continues to refuse to recognize the court’s authority.
As tensions escalate between the US and the ICC, it remains unclear how this dispute will evolve. For now, Netanyahu and Gallant find themselves caught between the power of international law and the unwavering support of one of the world’s most powerful nations.
Leave feedback about this