Russia has accused the United States of hypocrisy for opposing the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation of Israel while supporting the court’s warrant for the arrest of President Vladimir Putin. The ICC is currently investigating Hamas’ cross-border attack and Israel’s military assault on Gaza, which has been ongoing for seven months.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the United States does not support the ICC’s investigation of Israel and does not believe the court has jurisdiction in this matter. However, President Joe Biden previously supported the ICC’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin, citing alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
Russia has dismissed the warrant against Putin as a meaningless attempt by the West to tarnish Russia’s reputation and denies any involvement in war crimes in Ukraine. On the other hand, Ukraine has accused Russia of committing war crimes, a claim that Russia vehemently denies.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized Washington for supporting the ICC warrants against Russian leadership while not recognizing the court’s legitimacy for itself and its allies. The Kremlin has called the warrant against Putin outrageous and legally void, as Russia is not a signatory to the ICC treaty.
Meanwhile, Israel, a non-member of the ICC, expressed concerns that the court could issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials for alleged violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Israeli officials also fear that Hamas leaders could face similar warrants from the ICC.
The ongoing tensions between Russia, the United States, Israel, and the ICC highlight the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the international arena.