U.S. State Department, Congress Oppose ICC Prosecutor

U.S. Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller announced the United States rejects International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan’s announcement requesting arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Miller stated the United States rejects the ICC announcement, and that Israel and Hamas should not be equated:

Netanyahu responded to Khan’s announcement, and stated the ICC’s actions “cast an everlasting mark of shame on the international court.” Netanyahu alleged Khan requesting Israeli leaders be arrested with Hamas leaders creates a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas, stating:

Now, in the face of these horrors, Mr. Khan creates a twisted and false moral equivalence between the leaders of Israel and the henchmen of Hamas. This is like creating a moral equivalence after September 11th between President Bush and Osama Bin Laden, or during World War II between FDR and Hitler.

https://www.gov.il/en/pages/spoke-hague200524

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) alleged Khan’s actions were “anti-Semitic and politically motivated,” and stated he would work with his colleagues to restrict Khan, his associates, and their families from entering the United States in the future, posting on X:

Equating Israel’s democratically elected leaders with the perpetrators of the worst attack on Jews since WWII shows what a farce the International Criminal Court is. Mr. Khan’s kangaroo court has no jurisdiction in Israel to pursue these anti-Semitic and politically motivated ‘charges.’ My colleagues and I look forward to making sure neither Khan, his associates nor their families will ever set foot in the United States.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the ICC’s actions baseless and illegitimate, stating on X:

The ICC has no authority over Israel or the United States, and today’s baseless and illegitimate decision should face global condemnation. International bureaucrats cannot be allowed to use lawfare to usurp the authority of democratic nations that maintain the rule of law. Israel is fighting a just war for survival, and the ICC is attempting to equate Israeli officials to the evil terrorists who perpetrated the October 7th massacre. It’s clear the ICC’s decision has been advanced due to the Biden Administration’s pressure campaign against Israel and its outlandish State Department investigations. In the absence of leadership from the White House, Congress is reviewing all options, including sanctions, to punish the ICC and ensure its leadership faces consequences if they proceed. If the ICC is allowed to threaten Israeli leaders, ours could be next.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced he supports Khan’s decision to request arrest warrants, stating on X:

The ICC prosecutor is right to issue arrest warrants for political leaders who engage in war crimes. The global community must uphold international law. Without these standards of decency & morality, the planet may rapidly descend into anarchy, never-ending wars, and barbarism.

Representative Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) called the ICC illegitimate, and requested Congress pass her bill with Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas) that would punish the ICC officials involved in requesting the arrest of Netanyahu and Gallant, stating on X:

The ICC is an illegitimate court that equivocates a peaceful nation protecting its right to exist with radical terror groups that commit genocide. Congress must pass my bill with @RepChipRoy, the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, that will punish those in the ICC that made this baseless undemocratic decision. @nypost : “Rep. Elise Stefanik demands sanctions on ‘illegitimate’ ICC over Netanyahu arrest warrant bid”

Representative Brian Mast (R-Fla.) claimed the ICC announcement was similar to Special Counsel Jack Smith allegedly targeting former President Donald Trump, stating on X:

The International Criminal Court is using the same tactics to target Israel that Special Counsel Jack Smith is using to target President Donald Trump. Is it any surprise given that Smith worked for the ICC? The witch hunt is global.