Biden calls ICC's idea of issuing warrant for Netanyahu's arrest 'outrageous'
Archive photo: US President Joe Biden (Getty Images)
The plans of the International Criminal Court prosecutor to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are outrageous and could jeopardize the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, according to the statements from US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Reaction from Biden
The US President called the ICC prosecutor's statement about issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders outrageous.
"And let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas," the US President wrote.
He stated that the US will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.
Reaction from Blinken
The Secretary of State stated that the US rejects the International Criminal Court prosecutor's request for issuing arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
"We reject the prosecutor's equivalence of Israel with Hamas," Blinken said.
He added that the ICC's decision on the arrests could jeopardize efforts to achieve a ceasefire agreement, the agreement on hostage release, and the increase of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.
What preceded
Today it became known that the chief prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan, announced that the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli officials have called plans to issue an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu outrageous.
