The International Criminal Court's recent request for an arrest warrant for Israeli officials is consistent with international law and precedent.
In 2010, an arrest warrant was issued for Sudanese President Al Bashir partly on the grounds of using starvation and denial of food and #water as a weapon of war, clear violations of the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute's "crimes against humanity" and "war crimes" categories. #ICC
"His applications wholly ignore, any and all, issues unconnected with the current situation in the Gaza Strip. Nothing about the crime against humanity that is #apartheid, nothing about the war crime of illegal settlement, nothing about #Israel’s previous onslaughts against the #Gaza Strip, or its systematic sniper attacks against demonstrators during the 2018 #GreatMarchOfReturn." - #MouinRabbani
Blinken says he wants to work with Congress to penalize International Criminal Court
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s comments were an early indication of the Biden administration’s openness to taking action against the Netherlands-based court for its application for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan also issued warrants for senior Hamas officials, including its leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.
In a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Tuesday afternoon, #Blinken said he would “welcome” working with Sen. Lindsey Graham on “bipartisan” sanctions against the ICC.
“It’s clear Israel wants to do all it can to ensure civilian protection,” said #Biden at a White House reception marking Jewish American Heritage Month. “Let me be clear: What’s happening is not genocide.”
Let me be clear: - what is happening - the extreme, purposeful indifference to the lives and well-being of Gaza civilians is genocide. Biden is dead wrong on this point.
This is an extremely poor time to be sucking up to Benjamin Netanyahu. US politicians should think twice before acting on this war criminal's behalf. Genocide Ben is a huge part of the problem.
This comes from my United States Senator:
"Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) on Monday defended the International Criminal Court (ICC) for seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant along with senior Hamas officials, breaking with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on the controversial issue."
Sanders: ICC ‘right’ to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli defense official
by Alexander Bolton - 05/20/24 4:23 PM ET
#icc vs #icj
"The ICC considers cases against individuals and as such has to be distinguished from the International Court of Justice, which rules on disputes between states, such as the case brought by South Africa against Israel in January 2024 under the 1948 Genocide Convention."
#Palestine / Norway, along with Ireland and Spain, to recognize Palestinian state (to be followed by Slovenia and Malta); Israel recalls ambassadors to Ireland, Norway
With over 140 UN member states now recognizing Palestine, the wave of European support signals growing impatience with the stalled peace process and a willingness to challenge U.S.-backed insistence on direct negotiations favoring Israel's position.
[...] "In the middle of a war, with tens of thousands of dead and injured, we must keep alive the only thing that can provide a safe home for both Israelis and Palestinians: two states that can live in peace with each other," --- Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere (#Norway)
Israel swiftly condemned the move, recalling its ambassadors from Norway and Ireland, and warning of "dire consequences" if Spain follows through. The Israeli Foreign Minister accused the countries of "undercutting Israel's sovereignty and endangering its security."
A reminder that less than two weeks ago, it was revealed that Trump solicited a $1 billion bribe from the energy industry, offering in return the gutting of environmental regulations.
A week ago, Big Journalism had already consigned this epic scandal to the memory bin.
Had Biden done anything remotely like that, I guarantee that it would still be among the top stories of the day -- and Congress, including Democrats, would be moving toward impeachment.
@blazeoryan@mikeblake@dangillmor
That "commitment to allies" excuse doesn't work when you're talking about the people who literally rule the world. What, is Biden's boss gonna come down and give him an earful for NOT giving weapons to a genocidal state?
And if #Biden is so hamstrung by these commitments, then what about his commitment to the #UN and the #ICC, which he's now threatening to destroy?
"Karim Khan, the ICC prosecutor, must request the warrants from a pre-trial panel of three judges, who take on average two months to consider the evidence" & make a determination.
Israel is not a member of the ICC.
Even if the warrants are issued, there is no immediate risk of prosecution, but the threat of arrest could make OS travel difficult.
"ICC Charges Against Netanyahu First Time Court Has Gone After Western Leader"
Brody says the charges are "a watershed event in the history of international justice. This is the first time that a Western or pro-Western leader is [the] subject of an indictment request.”
The warrants for Israel’s top leaders must still be approved by a panel of ICC judges.
US Secretary of State Tony #Blinken signaled the #Biden administration would support bipartisan action in #Congress against the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court ( #ICC) in response to its decision to seek arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.
The #ICC can issue for signatories countries an arrest warrant on #Netanyahu because it has jurisdiction over international crimes committed in #Palestine since 2012
BUT
If #Israel doesn't recognise the #ICC, its territory isn't included in the jurisdiction, and the crimes of Hamas where carried out there, then how can the #ICC issue a legally binding arrest warrant on Hamas leaders?
Thank you very much for the screenshot. The paragraph b) is undeniably clear and my question is solved 😎
The #ICC recognises Palestina as a State and, hence, it can issue an arrest warrant on Hamas leaders independently where did they committed the crimes👏
#ICC / Prosecutor asks for arrest warrants for three leading Hamas leaders, as well ass Netanyahu and Galant
[...] The office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Monday said it was seeking arrest warrants against three leading Hamas militants for their alleged roles in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Watch: ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan explains the charges against top Hamas and Israeli leadership in detail in this excerpt from his interview with @amanpour this morning at The Hague
The ICC prosecutor's bold move has ignited a geopolitical firestorm pitting international legal accountability against national sovereignty claims and U.S./Israeli opposition to prosecuting their leaders. It is a pivotal juncture for the ICC's credibility.
Like Trump’s 2020 sanctions over the ICC's attempts to prosecute U.S. personnel in Afghanistan, self proclaimed leader of the “Free World” (meant to designate countries aligned with democracy, capitalism and human rights 🤔 during the Cold War era) #Biden has signaled it will back Congressional efforts to sanction the ICC for doing its job regarding Israel’s self evident war crimes in Gaza.
European allies like France, Germany, Spain, and Belgium voiced support for the ICC's independence, setting up tensions with the U.S. and Israel.
[cont'd] Attorney General and State Prosecutor in first statement against The Hague Prosecutor
"The State of Israel is a democratic state, fighting terrorism and defending its security while adhering to the binding legal rules and with a deep commitment to the law. The security forces, including the IDF, fight with full commitment to the rules of international law."
"The legal counsel to the government and the State Prosecutor's Office of the State of Israel thoroughly examine any serious allegation of violation of law by any Israeli state entity, and enforce the law. The judicial system in the State of Israel is prepared to examine any serious allegation, both regarding policy issues and regarding specific incidents. As the State of Israel has clarified over the years, the Court lacks any jurisdiction to conduct an investigation in this matter. In any case, the request at the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister is baseless."
A prime example of how the Israeli legal system whitewashes the crimes of its leaders and provides a facade of a functioning democracy with a robust and independent judicial system. Attorneys general have provided legal justifications, and military advocate generals have whitewashed these overt and well-documented actions for years now.
#UK / Defying PM, British Lawmakers From 11 Parties Want Solid Backing for ICC
A cross-party group of 105 MPs and peers (members of the House of Lords) in the UK sent a letter to the Foreign Secretary, urging the government to support the International Criminal Court (ICC). This comes after the British Prime Minister Rishi #Sunak criticized the #ICC's decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli and #Hamas leaders as "deeply unhelpful."
In their letter, the MPs and peers from 11 different parties called on the government to clearly oppose any attempts to intimidate or undermine the independent and impartial ICC. They want the UK government to firmly back the ICC, despite the Prime Minister's criticism of its recent actions regarding Israeli and Hamas figures.
[cont’d] Hungary says ICC warrant against Israel's Netanyahu 'unacceptable'
[…] "It is wrong to use a court as a political tool, and it should not be forgotten what led to what is happening in Gaza, and that is a ruthless, dishonest and vile terrorist attack on Israel," he said.
How not even ironic coming from a Hungarian official, given their shared passion with Israel for undermining the judiciary and targeting NGOs and civil society. But hey, at least #Israel and #Netanyahu can count on the support of their neo-fascist pals.
Biden appears ready to sanction the #ICC, the international court that prosecutes genocidal fascists.
If u support #JoeBiden for #potus, then you support removing an international check against dictators of the likes of #Trump. It's time for Democrats everywhere to admit that our most important business in #Chicago this August must be choosing a replacement for #GenocideJoe