US President Biden defends Israel, rejects ICC's genocide claims and arrest warrants

US President Joe Biden strongly defended Israel on Monday (20 May), stating that Israeli forces are not committing genocide in their military campaign against Hamas militants in Gaza.

Biden rejected the International Criminal Court's (ICC) application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, emphasizing that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas.

He asserted that Israel is committed to civilian protection and dismissed allegations of genocide made by the International Court of Justice.

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The ICC's Prosecutor Karim Khan KC announced on Monday that applications had been filed for arrest warrants for several key figures, including Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the 7 October attacks on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza.

This follows the publication of an assessment by a panel of experts in international law, convened by Khan, evaluated the jurisdiction and grounds for arrest warrants within the ‘Situation in the State of Palestine’.

The panel unanimously supported the Prosecutor’s assessment, affirming the ICC’s jurisdiction and the presence of reasonable grounds to believe that the named individuals, including top Hamas and Israeli leaders, have committed the alleged crimes.

In addition to targeting Netanyahu, the ICC’s charges extend to other notable figures such as Yoav Gallant, Israel’s Defense Minister; Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri (also known as Mohammed Deif), a leader of the Al Qassem Brigades; and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ political leader.

The ICC Prosecutor elaborated on the extensive evidence collected, including survivor interviews, verified media, satellite imagery, and perpetrator statements, underscoring the deliberate deprivation of essential resources to Gazan civilians as part of a broader strategy.

A panel of ICC judges will now consider Khan’s application for the arrest warrants.

Since the attack on 7 October, more than 35,500 Palestinians have been killed, and over 79,600 individuals have been injured. In Israel, the death toll stands at 1,139 people.

Although Israel and the United States are not members of the ICC, the court asserts jurisdiction over Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank. This claim is based on the formal agreement by Palestinian leaders in 2015 to adhere to the court’s founding principles.