The Pentagon ‘fundamentally rejects’ the ICC’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu
The Pentagon said it rejects the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday.
Pentagon Deputy Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters during a press conference Thursday that the US “rejects” the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants.
“We’re still concerned about the prosecutor’s rush to seek warrants, and you know, some of the processes that are in place,” Singh said. “And again, we have made it clear that the ICC does not have the power to handle this matter.”
The ICC charged Netanyahu and Gallant with “crimes against humanity and war crimes,” including using starvation as a means of war and targeting civilians.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, speaks with current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, left, at the opening of the 25th session of the Knesset marking the anniversary of the battle of “Iron Swords”, in Jerusalem, October 28. (Photo by Debbie Hill/Pool via AP)
President Biden criticized the court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for the two senior Israeli officials.
“The ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli leaders is outrageous,” Biden said. “Let me be clear again: no matter what the ICC says, there is no equality – none – between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel in the fight against threats to its security.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the court’s action in a statement on Thursday.
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People inspect a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, a suburb south of Beirut, Lebanon, Nov. 14. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
“Looked at the wrong way, the bad decision at the ICC has turned international justice into a global laughing stock,” Herzog wrote. “It makes a mockery of the sacrifices of all those who fought for justice – from the Allied victory over the Nazis to today.”
Herzog argued that the ICC decision ignores Hamas’ use of human shields and the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack that started the war, as well as Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza.
Israel made several attempts to prevent the ICC from agreeing to the arrest. They initially argued that the ICC did not have jurisdiction over Israel, but the court said it could issue arrest warrants as part of “the Palestinian Authority.”
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech at the 79th session of the United Nations, New York City, September 27. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Israel made other procedural challenges, but was rejected.
This move by the ICC comes a few days after Senate Majority Leader John Thune threatened to hit the court with sanctions if it goes ahead with the arrest warrants.
The US does not formally accept the ICC’s mandate, but this is not the first time Washington has looked to halt the court’s actions.
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In 2020, the Trump administration opposed the ICC’s efforts to investigate US soldiers and the CIA involved in war crimes between 2003-2004 in “secret detention facilities in Afghanistan,” and issued sanctions against ICC prosecutors.
Biden’s administration rescinded those sanctions shortly after taking office.
Anders Hagstrom of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
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