US Refutes ICC Allegations Against Israeli PM Netanyahu

In Washington DC, US President-elect Donald Trump's National Security Advisor nominee, Mike Waltz, announced that the US government has dismissed allegations made by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Waltz stated that Israel has lawfully defended its citizens. He posted on X, "The ICC has no credibility, and these allegations have been refuted by the US government. Israel has lawfully defended its people & borders from genocidal terrorists. You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC & UN come January."

Meanwhile, France and the Netherlands have expressed their intention to respect the ICC warrants. Josep Borrell, the European Union's top diplomat, emphasized that the court's decision "has to be respected and implemented," describing it as "binding" on all state parties, including all EU members.

Although Israel and the US are not ICC members, they are aware of its laws. The court lacks an enforcement mechanism and relies on cooperation from its member states. Attorney Yuval Kaplinsky, a former head of the International Law Department at the State Attorney's Office, noted that the warrants imply a risk of arrest and extradition for Netanyahu and Gallant if they travel to ICC member countries.

Netanyahu's office condemned the ICC's decision as "antisemitic" and pledged that the ruling would not deter Israel from protecting its citizens. The charges were rejected as "false" and "absurd," with claims that they stem from ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan's attempts to "deflect attention from serious allegations against him for sexual harassment" and from "biased judges motivated by antisemitic hatred of Israel."

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and a senior Hamas official over alleged war crimes during the conflict following the October 7 attacks on Israel last year.