Amidst ongoing demands from the U.S. for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to drop accusations of war crimes against Israel, European allies are expressing their support for the institution. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decries the prosecutor's actions as a "travesty of justice."
Israel and the United States have vehemently protested the International Criminal Court's (ICC) prosecutor's applications for arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes committed during the 2023 conflict. In response, European allies have come to the ICC's defense.
France has expressed its steadfast support for the ICC and its mission to combat impunity, while Slovenia has emphasized the importance of accountability in addressing the Israel-Hamas conflict. Belgium has also endorsed the ICC's work, acknowledging the significance of the investigation into alleged atrocities in Palestine.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has vehemently condemned the ICC's actions, denouncing them as a "travesty of justice." He has vehemently rejected the prosecutor's comparison between Israel and Hamas, describing it as a vile attack on the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
President Biden has publicly backed Israel in its rejection of the ICC's actions, asserting that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas. Biden has also stated that Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas attacks.
Despite the U.S. stance, several European allies have voiced their support for the ICC's investigation. France's Foreign Ministry has emphasized the need to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity impartially and regardless of the perpetrators. Slovenia has echoed this sentiment, stressing the crucial role of accountability in preventing atrocities and fostering peace. Belgium has also acknowledged the significance of investigating alleged war crimes in Palestine.
However, Germany has expressed hesitation over the arrest warrant applications against Israeli leadership. The German Foreign Office has stated that the simultaneous pursuit of warrants against both Hamas leaders and Israeli officials has created a misleading impression of equivalence.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has maintained that his office has gathered sufficient evidence to establish "reasonable grounds" for believing that Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict.
Khan has accused the Israeli government of engaging in "starvation of civilians as a method of warfare" and "intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population." He has also sought arrest warrants for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, its top political leader Ismail Haniyeh, and its military commander Mohammed Deif.
The ICC's arrest warrant push has further deepened the international divide between the U.S. and its European allies. The U.S. remains steadfast in its opposition to the ICC's actions, while European allies have reaffirmed their support for the institution and its mandate to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity.
