US says ICC lacks jurisdiction amid potential arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials

'We do not support it. We don't believe that they have the jurisdiction,' says White House

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The White House said Monday that the International Criminal Court (ICC) lacks jurisdiction amid speculation that it could soon hand down arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said Washington "has been very clear" that it does not support the ICC's ongoing investigation into both the Hamas-led Oct. 7 cross-border attack on Israel, and Israel's retaliatory military offensive on the besieged Gaza Strip.

"We've been really clear about the ICC investigation. We do not support it. We don't believe that they have the jurisdiction, and I'm just gonna leave it there for now," she told reporters.

Media reports that began circulating on Saturday said Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Israeli Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi could soon face ICC arrest warrants.

“Where is [US President Joe] Biden? Why is he quiet while Israel will potentially be thrown under the bus?” an Israeli diplomatic source told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

The ICC for its part has not publicly commented on the potential warrants.

Israel and the US are not members of the ICC and do not recognize its jurisdiction. Palestine was admitted as a member of The Hague-based court in 2015.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry earlier instructed its embassies worldwide to be prepared for potential repercussions if the ICC issues arrest warrants against Israeli officials for war crimes and human rights violations in Gaza.

Israel has waged a sweeping offensive on the Palestinian enclave since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, which killed nearly 1,200 people.

Nearly 34,500 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 77,60 others have been injured amid mass destruction and severe shortages of necessities.

Separately from the ICC probe, Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Kaynak:

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