Biden Condemns ICC Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing alleged war crimes committed in Gaza, including murder and persecution. U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the warrants as 'outrageous,' emphasizing there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas, and the U.S. State Department declared the decision to be rushed and lacking jurisdiction. Republican lawmakers in the U.S. have also criticized the ICC, threatening sanctions against the court and labeling it a politically motivated organization. The warrants represent a significant move by the ICC, marking the first time in its history that it has targeted senior officials from a Western ally. The ICC's Chief Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan stated that the actions of Netanyahu and Gallant were crimes against humanity, while Netanyahu described the warrants as anti-Semitic. The situation has exacerbated tensions between the U.S. and the ICC, with ongoing discussions about how to respond.