'No genocide in Gaza': Biden fumes at ICC

News Desk - The Cradle 

The US President slammed the ICC for 'equating' Israeli officials to Hamas leaders, who were also accused of war crimes by The Hague-based court

US President Joe Biden slammed on 20 May the ICC decision to apply for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister, referring to it as “outrageous” and denying Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip. 

“Contrary to allegations against Israel made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), what's happening is not genocide. We reject that,” Biden said during a speech at the White House. “The ICC prosecutor's application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous.”

Biden strongly criticized ICC prosecutor Karim Khan for equating the conduct of the Israeli ministers with that of Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh – who, alongside the premier and defense chief, were accused of war crimes. 

“Let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas.  We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security,” the president added. 

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also said in a statement that the ICC decision is “shameful.” He said that while Israel is not a member of the ICC, it is prepared to cooperate with the ICC prosecutor.

According to Blinken, Khan’s staff was supposed to travel to Israel on Monday. Two Israeli officials told Axios that the US and UK helped organize the visit and that Netanyahu agreed for the first time to engage with the prosecutor’s office and allow him to enter specific areas in the Gaza Strip. 

Blinken added that despite the planned visit, Khan’s team informed Israel that they did not board the flight, which the Secretary of State said “calls into question the legitimacy and credibility of this investigation.”

US and Israeli officials told Axios that the decision to seek warrants “undermined” recent behind-the-scenes talks between Khan, the US, and Israel, to discuss the investigation.

The news comes as US lawmakers have been threatening the ICC with sanctions if arrest warrants are issued against Israeli leaders. 

“Target Israel and we will target you,” the senators told Khan in a strongly worded letter earlier this month, adding that they will “sanction your employees and associates, and bar you and your families from the United States.”

Netanyahu referred to the decision on 20 May as a “moral outrage of historic proportions” and said that it would stain the ICC's reputation permanently. 

The premier added the warrants are equivalent to comparing former US president George Bush to Osama bin Laden following the attacks of 11 September 2001.