Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Biden Faces ICC Over Move to Arrest Netanyahu For War Crimes

POSTED ON May 21, 2024 •   Foreign Affairs      BY Benedicta Bassey
The United States President, Joe Biden/Photo credit: AFP


The United States President, Joe Biden, has opposed the by the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor for an arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu,  and defense minister, Yoav Gallant.

Secretary of State, Antony Blinken warned that efforts to secure a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza could be harmed by the move by the Hague-based court, AFP reports.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan applied for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant as well as three top Hamas leaders on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity yesterday.

In the statement published by the ICC on its website, the prosecutor said he was seeking warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant for crimes including “wilful killing,” “extermination and/or murder” and “starvation.”

“The ICC prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous. And let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas,” Biden said in a statement.

“We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”
Neither the United States nor Israel is a member of the ICC and both have rejected its jurisdiction.

Biden did not comment on the warrant requests for Yahya Sinwar, the head of the Palestinian Hamas movement in Gaza, and Ismail Haniyeh, the movement’s political chief.

Netanyahu on Monday also said he rejected “with disgust” an application by the prosecutor for his arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

According to AFP, the Israeli PM said, “I reject with disgust The Hague prosecutor’s comparison between democratic Israel and the mass murderers of Hamas.”

Washington recently withheld a shipment of arms to Israel in a bid to warn off an offensive in the southern city of Rafah.

Top diplomat Blinken denounced the ICC application as “shameful” and warned it could harm ongoing efforts for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Hamas following the militant group’s October 7 attack on Israel.

“The United States fundamentally rejects the announcement today from the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court,” Blinken said in a statement.

READ ALSO
Nigeria, Canada forge new Aviation ties with bilateral Air services agreement
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 26, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - In a notable achievement for the aviation sector, the Minister of Aviation and Aero...

READ ALSO
Nigeria risks losing LNG market share without addressing theft, vandalism - Aderemi
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 25, 2025 0

The Chairman of the International Law Association (ILA), Dr. Tolu Aderemi, has discussed how Nigeria...

READ ALSO
India reaffirms commitment to strengthening ties with Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 20, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The High Commission of India has reiterated its commitment to enhancing bilateral r...

READ ALSO
Sierra Leone's President highlights needs for local food production to combat import dependency
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 6, 2025 0

IBADAN, Nigeria- The President of Sierra Leone, Julius Bio, expressed concerns on Wednesday in Ibada...

READ ALSO
JUST IN: Tinubu arrives in Ethiopia for 38th African Union Summit
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 14, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to take part in the 38th Ordinary Sessio...

READ ALSO
Destabilise Niger Republic baseless – FG
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 27, 2024 0

NIGERIA- The Nigerian government has described as baseless, allegations by Nigerien military leader,...

READ ALSO
Benin electoral officials visit Nigeria to study INEC
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 17, 2024 0

ABUJA (NAN) - At least 12 high-ranking officials from the national electoral management body of Beni...

READ ALSO
Tinubu commits to diplomacy for ECOWAS reintegration of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 12, 2024 0

President Bola Tinubu has stated that the interest and welfare of the citizens of Mali, Burkina Faso...

OUR CHANNELS:

Ogun police respond to rising attacks at Sagamu interchange
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 5, 2025 0

There are worries regarding the attacks and killings by hoodlums targeting commuters traveling to Ab...


Rwanda match takes precedence as Super Eagles eye world cup qualification
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 5, 2025 0

Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle, has indicated that his team will place greater emphasis on the upco...


LASU celebrates 28th convocation with Over 11,000 graduates, honors distinguished Nigerians
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - Lagos State University (LASU) announced on Thursday that it will be graduating no l...


Federal high court orders forfeiture of $20,000 from traveler for customs violation
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - A Federal High Court in Lagos has mandated the forfeiture of $20,000 seized by the...


German eye Nigeria's mineral wealth as foreign direct investments surge
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 5, 2025 0

Ongoing initiatives to draw in Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) seem to be bearing fruit, as certai...


Lagos faces severe traffic chaos as Independence Bridge repairs begin after Sallah holiday
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

LAGOS, NIGERIA - Lagos residents faced a challenging situation yesterday as they returned to work fo...


FG signs $174.6M agreement with UNIDO to enhance Nigeria's industry
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The Federal Government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) have enter...


U.S. shows highest anxiety over AI Job loss amidst technological advancements
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

Despite its advanced status, research indicates that the United States of America (USA) has the high...


Bayelsa communities threaten to halt oil production over security contract dispute
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

BAYELSA, Nigeria - Nigeria’s struggling oil output may be on the brink of another crisis as co...


NITDA Partners Afrovision technologies to bridge job gap for Nigeria’s Tech Talent
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

In an effort to tackle the ongoing challenge of job placement for Nigeria’s expanding tech tal...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu