Netanyahu Warns US Leaders Could Be Arrested For Crimes Against Humanity

In a televised interview, Prime Minister Netanyahu told CNN that the warrants against him establish a “dangerous” precedent for other democratic nations. He warns that US leaders could be arrested for crimes against humanity.

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Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, stated on Tuesday that he objects to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) request for an arrest warrant against him, implying that American officials may follow suit.

President Joe Biden and other prominent American and Israeli politicians criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) this week for announcing that it would pursue arrest warrants for Mr. Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and the Hamas commanders. According to the ICC, the warrants for the Israeli leadership related to the nation’s actions in the current conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Regarding the nation’s actions in its conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Mr. Netanyahu claimed that the warrants against him and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant established a “dangerous” precedent for other democratic nations, including Israel’s friends.

“Israel is given here a bum rap. I think it’s dangerous. It’s the first democracy being taken to the dock when it is doing exactly what democracies should be doing in an exemplary way,” he told CNN in a televised interview. “It endangers all other democracies. Israel is first, but you’re next. Britain is next. Others are next, too.”

Additionally, Mr. Netanyahu stated in the interview that Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan is merely making matters worse and that the accusations made by the ICC are “false, dangerous, and outrageous.” He went on to say that it is incorrect to regard Israel and Hamas as equals.

“He’s equating the democratically elected leaders of Israel with the terrorist tyrants of Hamas. That’s like saying, well, I’m issuing arrest warrants for FDR and Churchill but also for Hitler. Or I’m going to issue arrest warrants for George W. Bush but also [Osama] bin Laden. That’s absurd,” Mr. Netanyahu said.

Whether to issue the arrest warrants and allow the case to proceed will be decided by a panel of three judges. It usually takes the courts two months to decide on these matters.

Even if the arrest warrants are issued, Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant won’t be immediately prosecuted because Israel isn’t a member of the court. However, the Israeli leaders may find it challenging to travel outside given the possibility of being arrested.

The two could “bear criminal responsibility” for “war crimes and crimes against humanity” in Gaza, including the purported starvation of residents, deliberate death, persecution, and other offenses, according to a statement released by prosecutor Mr. Khan on Monday. Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, the leaders of Hamas, are accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of crimes against humanity, war crimes involving the seizure of hostages, torture, and other cruel acts.

Mr. Khan was advised by a five-person expert panel that included Amal Clooney, the actor George Clooney’s wife and an international human rights lawyer. According to a statement released by the panel, she added that all members had unanimously agreed that there were “reasonable grounds” to assume that both Israeli and Hamas commanders had committed war crimes.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in a statement released on Monday that Washington disagrees with the International Criminal Court prosecutor’s declaration that he will pursue arrest warrants, stating that “we reject the Prosecutor’s equivalency of Israel with Hamas.” It is deplorable.

“Hamas is a brutal organization that carried out the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and is still holding dozens of innocent people hostage, including Americans,” he added in the statement.

The request to detain its leaders “equates the victim with the executioner,” according to Hamas, a terrorist group designated by the US State Department, which has criticized the ICC prosecutor’s conduct.

In a statement released earlier this week, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) stated that he supported the International Criminal Court’s decision, adding that “these arrest warrants may or may not be carried out, but the global community must uphold international law.” “Without these standards of decency and morality, this planet may rapidly descend into anarchy, never-ending wars, and barbarism.”

Separately, Israel is dealing with a complaint that South Africa filed before the International Court of Justice, the highest court in the UN, accusing Israel of genocide. The assertions have been refuted by Israeli officials.

To bring cases against individuals connected to aggression, war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, the ICC was founded in 2002.

Vladimir Putin is wanted by the ICC on allegations related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as of last year. In response, the Kremlin issued arrest warrants for Mr. Khan and the other international panel judges.

Other well-known figures prosecuted by the ICC include former strongman of Libya Moammar Gadhafi, who passed away in November 2011 during the uprisings known as the “Arab Spring,” together with his son Saif Gadhafi, former leader of Sudan Omar al-Bashir, and warlord Joseph Kony of Africa.

Recently, GreatGameIndia reported that Amal Clooney, wife of actor George Clooney, advised the ICC panel supporting arrest warrants for Israeli officials and Hamas leaders. They allege war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, pending ICC judge assessment.