"Under my leadership, Israel will any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right to self defense."--Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu [comment provided by Axios' WHCA 2024 Aldo Beckman Award Winner, Barak Ravid]
US & GLOBAL: In Israel, as the war between the Israeli government and Hamas rages on, some controversy has been raised over the prospective arrests of Israeli officials by the International Criminal Court. Reaching the United States, the news of the possible arrests of Israeli government officials, particularly, aiming such punitive measures at Prime Minister Ben Netanyahu, the US has denied the necessity of any such efforts. by the ICC.
By Anne M. Erbynstein
In regard to the ICC, White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre informed that White House officials "...do not believe they have the jurisdiction, adding, "...We do not support it." -- Today, White House officials have rejected the idea that Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israel officials be arrested in view of actions being taken by Israeli military during the ongoing war. As the ICC assesses any cause for arrests and prosecution of Israeli officials in the hope of justifying its decision, the Israeli government has stated its position indicating that neither of the Israel government officials will face prosecution at The Hague. While membership reaches as many as 124 nations, neither Israel nor the United States are counted among the nations ofthe ICC. The ICC makes the claim that, despite the attack by Hamas forces, October 7, that killed 1200 Israelis, the Israel government has responded by imposing "...gratuitously brutal and indiscriminate..." ICC officials charge Israel with committing international law violations in association with strikes during allied efforts at deliveries of humanitarian aid. In regard to Israel's responsibility for the lives of the Palestinian residents of Gaza, what may be advisable for Palestine officials to insist that its fellow countrymen vacate Gaza, completely, while the prospect of harm looms over the lives of those who, even after more than one warning to vacate, remained in place. Today, it is more a reasonable possibility that Gaza residents clear out of the north and south of the Strip for the sake of preserving their lives while giving the space over to the full-scale battle between Palestine backed Hamas and Israel--the last man standing taking full control of the Gaza. Despite the very evidently planned strikes at Rafah, Egypt and further into Gaza being formed by the IDF for the purpose of seeking out and capturing Hamas leaders, the fact remains that Gaza residents have contended against evacuations and have adamantly defied leaving Gaza, their proclaimed home region. Aside from the apparent plan for strikes in Rafah, Israel may be unjustly targeted by the ICC for taking it on the chin for the very act of refusal by Palestine leaders and Gaza residents to clear out of Gaza and the path of war violence. Arguments have been lodged in regard to the ICC's plan for imposing charges and arrests. Critics of Israel including Palestine government officials who have intimated their impression that the ICC "...is doing its job," adding that they hasn't any knowledge of how Israel can claim the ICC has no jurisdiction over crimes over which "...it has jurisdiction..."
In the US, the exact impression of the ICC counters that of Palestine leaders. In fact, one former Democratic government official , Joel Ruben, commented in regard to the quite apparent and blatant bias had by the ICC and the ICJ, stating that both courts have targeted Israel while planning to issue arrest warrants. Rubin is joined by a number of US officials whose belief it is that the ICC arrest effort is an absurd plot against Israel.
A defiant Netanyahu is joined by the US, including President Biden who, after having learned of the ICC arrest plans indicated that the White House does not support the ICC investigation.
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