The US is as outraged as Israel over the request for an international arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. Although a panel of judges at the International Criminal Court has yet to approve the application of chief prosecutor Karim Khan (pictured above), Washington and Jerusalem are already targeting the British lawyer (see video above). The US is even considering sanctions against Khan.
The US government is prepared to work with Congress to potentially impose sanctions on International Criminal Court officials, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday. At a Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he would like to see new US sanctions against the court in response to the move announced by ICC Chief Prosecutor Khan on Monday.
“I want to see action, not just words,” Graham told Blinken. “Will you support the bipartisan effort to sanction the ICC, not just for outrage against Israel, but to protect our own interests in the future?” And Blinken responded: “I’m happy to work with you on this.”
Khan has “legitimate grounds” for an arrest warrant
In his announcement, Khan said he had legitimate reasons to believe that Netanyahu, Defense Minister Joav Gallant and three leaders of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas bear “criminal responsibility” for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Both Democratic President Joe Biden and his political opponents sharply criticized Khan’s announcement. They argued that the court had no jurisdiction over the Gaza conflict and expressed concerns about the trial. The United States is not a member of the court but has supported prosecutions in the past, including the ICC’s decision last year to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.
Outrage over equating the military with Hamas
At an earlier hearing on Tuesday, Blinken said he would work with Congress on an appropriate response and called the ICC’s move “highly inappropriate.” The decision – which equates Hamas with Israel’s leadership – would complicate prospects for a hostage deal and ceasefire in Israel’s conflict with Palestinian militant Hamas, Blinken said.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
