(Dan Tri) – A US diplomat said that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over Israeli officials when the conflict is breaking out in the Gaza Strip.
US President Joe Biden (left) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Tel Aviv in October 2023 (Photo: Reuters).
`We work closely with the ICC on a number of key areas. We think they’re doing important work as it relates to Ukraine, Darfur, Sudan. But in this particular case, I’m sorry,
Mr. Patel told reporters that although it does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction over its citizens, the United States still cooperates with the International Criminal Court on some issues.
His statement came after reports that the Hague-based court may issue an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader over the actions of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza.
Bloomberg said the G7 countries have privately told the ICC that Israel could back out of a potential ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza if investigators directly target Israeli officials.
Israeli officials are concerned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi could be targets of the ICC, according to the Times of Israel.
In a video released on April 30, Mr. Netanyahu criticized the arrest warrant, if issued by the ICC, as `an insult of historic proportions.`
`Considering Israel’s leaders and soldiers as war criminals will add fuel to the fire of anti-Semitism,` Netanyahu said, adding that Israel does not recognize the authority of the ICC.
Mr. Netanyahu accused the ICC of trying to `cripple Israel’s ability to defend itself.`
In his speech, Netanyahu reiterated that the Israeli army will not stop its military campaign in Gaza until the Palestinian militant group Hamas is neutralized and until `Gaza no longer poses a threat to
In January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), a separate judicial body, ruled that the IDF’s actions in Gaza amounted to genocide.
The current spiral of fighting between Israel and Hamas broke out on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group attacked Israeli territory, killing more than 1,100 people and taking more than 250 people hostage.
According to local authorities, more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks.
