US opposes ICC arrest warrant for Isreali PM

The United States on Thursday strongly rejected the issuance of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant.

A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council criticized the decision, citing procedural concerns and questioning the speed of the prosecutor's actions.

According to Reuters, “The United States fundamentally rejects the Court's decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials. “We are deeply concerned by the prosecutor's haste in seeking an arrest warrant and the troubling procedural errors that led to this decision,” the spokesperson said.

The US government is reportedly consulting with its allies on possible next steps in response to the ICC action.

The ICC decision, announced on Thursday, has attracted widespread international attention and controversy.

The arrest warrant stems from an ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes in the area.

Netanyahu and Gallant have denied the allegations, with Israeli officials rejecting the ICC's jurisdiction over the case.

The ICC announced that the warrants were related to allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed between October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024.

“The Chamber issued arrest warrants for two individuals, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Yoav Galant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes from at least 8 October 2023 to at least 20 May 2024, the date on which the prosecution served the warrant. Application was filed for. Arrest,” the Hague-based ICC said in a statement on Thursday.

It said a warrant was also issued for Deaf.

According to the ICC statement on Thursday, the arrest warrant, which was initially classified as secret, was made public to protect witnesses, ensure the integrity of the investigation and to inform the victims and their families.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan requested the warrant earlier this year, citing ongoing violations related to the Gaza conflict.

“However, the Chamber has decided to release the information below because conduct similar to that addressed in the arrest warrant appears to be continuing,” the tribunal said. “Furthermore, the Chamber considers it in the interests of the victims and their families to make them aware of the existence of the warrant.”

The warrant accused Netanyahu and Galant of involvement in crimes arising from Israel's military operations in Gaza, while Deaf was wanted for his role in Hamas actions during the same period.

The ICC clarified that the conduct described in the warrant is still continuing.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,200 people, mainly civilians. In response, Israel launched military operations in Gaza.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has reported more than 44,000 deaths and more than 100,000 injuries since the conflict began, while the violence has continued for more than 13 months.

In a related development, the ICC had initially sought an arrest warrant for Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, but dropped the request after his death in Tehran on July 31.

Claims of Deif's death in a 13 July airstrike are unconfirmed, as Hamas has denied his death.