Biden criticizes ICC for suggesting Israel and Hamas are equal

The Biden administration strongly denounced the International Criminal Court’s efforts to seek arrest warrants for top Israeli officials and Hamas leaders, equating the move to putting a terrorist organization and a key US ally on the same level. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan revealed in an exclusive interview with CNN that the tribunal is pursuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and others for their roles in the recent conflict that resulted in numerous Palestinian casualties.

President Biden condemned the ICC’s actions as “outrageous,” emphasizing that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas. He reiterated his support for Israel’s efforts to protect civilians and dismissed any claims of genocide. The announcement of arrest warrants for Israeli leaders marks a significant development, as it is the first time the ICC has targeted a leader of a top US ally.

The news sparked global condemnation, with the UK and the US rejecting the ICC’s decision. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the efforts “baseless and illegitimate,” hinting at possible sanctions in response. However, Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders supported the ICC’s move, emphasizing the importance of upholding international law.

The US finds itself in a delicate position, supporting the ICC’s investigation into Russian war crimes in Ukraine while urging Israel to exercise more precision in its military operations. Despite the complexities of the situation, the US remains committed to supporting efforts to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes.