France, Belgium, and other European allies are voicing support for the International Criminal Court amid ongoing demands from the U.S. to drop accusations of war crimes against Israel. The protestations from the U.S. and Israel come after ICC prosecutor Karim Khan filed applications for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes. France’s foreign ministry affirmed its support for the ICC, emphasizing the fight against impunity in all situations. Slovenia also expressed support for the ICC, stating that accountability is crucial in addressing the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Labib echoed support for the ICC’s work, calling the request for arrest warrants against both Hamas and Israeli officials an important step in the investigation of the situation in Palestine. Germany, however, showed hesitation at the accusations against Israeli leadership, suggesting that the simultaneous application for arrest warrants gave a false impression of equivalence. Khan stated that his office had collected evidence indicating that Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the State of Palestine.
Khan further mentioned that the alleged crimes include starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population. He also sought arrest warrants for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, its top political leader Ismail Haniyeh, and its military commander Mohammed Deif. The Israeli government rebuked the ICC’s handling of the situation, with Netanyahu rejecting with disgust the comparison made by the Hague prosecutor between democratic Israel and the mass murderers of Hamas. Netanyahu emphasized that the arrest warrants implied were against the IDF soldiers fighting against Hamas with heroism.
In response to the ICC’s announcement, U.S. President Joe Biden publicly backed Israel, rejecting the ICC’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders. Biden emphasized that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas and stated that Israel is committed to ensuring civilian protection. The ongoing tensions between the U.S., Israel, and the ICC highlight the complexities of international relations and conflicts in the Middle East. Support from European allies for the ICC underscores the importance of accountability and the fight against impunity in addressing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
