Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) arrives for a party meeting at the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem on 20 May 2024. Israel on 20 May slammed as a “historical disgrace” an application by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. (Oren Ben Hakoon/AFP)
- France expressed support for the International Criminal
Court (ICC) and its independence amid the ICC’s request for arrest warrants
against leaders from both Israel and Hamas. - The ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, accused leaders from
Israel and Hamas of committing crimes against humanity. - The United States, alongside Israel, rejected the ICC’s
actions, with President Joe Biden calling the move “outrageous”.
France
said late Monday it supported the independence of the International Criminal
Court, whose prosecutor has requested arrest warrants for leaders from Israel,
including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Islamist movement Hamas.
“France
supports the International Criminal Court, its independence, and the fight
against impunity in all situations,” its foreign ministry said in a
statement.
The
ministry “condemned the anti-Semitic massacres perpetrated by Hamas”
during the group’s attack on Israel on 7 October, which was “accompanied
by acts of torture and sexual violence”.
It
also said it had warned Israel “of the need for strict compliance with
international humanitarian law, and in particular of the unacceptable level of
civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip and inadequate humanitarian access”.
The
International Criminal Court’s prosecutor Karim Khan said on Monday he had
applied for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for
crimes including “wilful killing”, “extermination and/or
murder”, and “starvation” during the war in Gaza.
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He
said Israel had committed “crimes against humanity” and accused it
“of a widespread and systematic attack against the Palestinian civilian
population”.
Khan
also said the leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, including
Qatar-based Ismail Haniyeh and Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar, “bear criminal
responsibility” for actions committed during the 7 October attack.
These
included “taking hostages”, “rape and other acts of sexual
violence”, and “torture”, he said.
“International
law and the laws of armed conflict apply to all,” Khan said. “No foot
soldier, no commander, no civilian leader – no one – can act with
impunity.”
Israel
rejected the accusations as a “historical disgrace”, while
Iran-backed Hamas said it “strongly condemns” the move.
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The
United States, Israel’s top ally, also rejected the ICC’s bid, with President
Joe Biden denouncing it as “outrageous” and saying “there is no
equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas”.
US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the ICC move “could
jeopardise” efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza.
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