US says it opposes World Court investigation into Israel’s war on Gaza

Washington:

The United States said on Monday it opposes an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into Israel’s conduct in Gaza, amid reports that Israeli officials fear the Hague-based tribunal could soon issue an arrest warrant. .

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly raised the issue with US President Joe Biden in a call over the weekend.

“We have been really clear about the ICC investigation that we do not support it, we do not believe they have jurisdiction,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing.

The New York Times quoted Israeli officials as saying that Netanyahu himself may be among the accusers. It said the court is also considering charges against Hamas leaders.

Jean-Pierre would not confirm a report from news outlet Axios that Netanyahu asked Biden in his call on Sunday to stop the court from sending warrants to Israeli officials.

“The primary focus of that call was obviously to get a hostage agreement and a ceasefire, humanitarian aid into Gaza,” he said.

The spokesman also declined to comment on reports that Washington had contacted the ICC, warning that the issuance of any warrant could derail steps to reach a ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas.

The ICC has not commented on the reports. But in recent days a series of Israeli officials have said that any attempt by the court to take any action against Israel would be “outrageous”.

“Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the ICC to weaken its inherent right to self-defense,” Netanyahu said on Friday.

“Although the ICC will not influence Israel’s actions, it would set a dangerous precedent that threatens the soldiers and officers of all democracies fighting brutal terrorism and wanton aggression.”

Foreign Minister Israel Katz said his country “will not bow our heads or cower” from the legal threat.

Katz said, “If the warrants are issued, they will harm IDF (Israeli military) commanders and soldiers and demoralize the terrorist organizations Hamas and the Iran-led Axis of Radical Islam that we are fighting against.” ” weekend.

Neither the United States nor Israel is a member of the ICC.

But the ICC in 2021 began investigating Israel as well as Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups for possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has said the investigation now extends to hostilities following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.

The ICC is the world’s only independent court established to investigate the most serious crimes committed by individual suspects, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It has previously issued warrants for national leaders – most recently for Russian President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine.

Although the likelihood of actual arrest in such cases is low, the warrant can make it difficult for politicians to travel abroad.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)