Western governments, including Israel and the United States, have strongly opposed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) request for arrest warrants on war crime charges against not only the leaders of the Palestinian armed group Hamas but also the Israeli Prime Minister and others on the 20th (local time).
Members of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament, total 120) also criticized Karim Khan, the ICC Chief Prosecutor’s decision as anti-Semitism bipartisanly. Israel, the United States, and the Knesset, which are in conflict over the ceasefire, have spoken with one voice.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request for arrest warrants against him and other ministers, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as anti-Semitism. The Biden administration in the United States and other Western sides also strongly criticized Chief Prosecutor Khan’s decision.
Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed disgust and rejection of the comparison of moral Israeli soldiers and the military with Hamas murderers, criticizing Chief Prosecutor Khan’s request for arrest warrants as an instance of new anti-Semitism that has moved from Western university campuses to the ICC. He emphasized that the ICC would not prevent Israel from defeating Hamas and winning outright.
About 106 Knesset members also signed a statement opposing Chief Prosecutor Khan’s request for arrest warrants bipartisanly, according to local media Times of Israel (TOI). The statement pointed out that Israel is waging a legitimate war against a criminal terrorist organization within the scope of international law, and the absurd comparison between Israeli leaders and Hamas leaders is an indelible historical crime and a clear expression of anti-Semitism.
Earlier, Chief Prosecutor Khan announced that he had requested arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gallant, and other Israeli ministers, as well as Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif, three leaders of the Hamas leadership.
Chief Prosecutor Khan claimed that they bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Palestinian territory (Gaza Strip) from October 8, 2023.
TOI reported that Western governments, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, have unanimously criticized Chief Prosecutor Khan’s decision.
President Joe Biden of the United States said in a statement released, “The ICC prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant against Israeli leaders is absurd,” and “There is no equality between Israel and Hamas, whatever the ICC prosecutor implies.”
Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, also criticized in a separate statement, “We reject the ICC prosecutor’s view that Israel and Hamas are equal,” and “It is a shameful thing.” He continued, “The United States fundamentally rejects the ICC prosecutor’s announcement of requesting an arrest warrant against senior Israeli officials along with Hamas terrorists,” and “The ICC does not have jurisdiction over this issue.”
The German Foreign Ministry emphasized in a statement that the ICC gave the wrong impression of equating Israel and Hamas, and the Israeli government has the right and obligation to protect and defend its citizens against Hamas.
TOI reported that the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs is launching a diplomatic offensive to publicly criticize Chief Prosecutor Khan’s decision, and Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz will visit Paris, France, on the 21st to meet French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, the president of the National Assembly and the Senate, and Jewish leaders.
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