Representatives of the Democratic and Republican parties of the US Congress have warned the International Criminal Court (ICC) that the US may take retaliatory measures in the event of a possible decision to issue an arrest warrant to high-ranking Israeli officials. Axios news platform reports this, citing sources.
According to them, a bill is already being prepared that will allow the executive power to respond to possible arrest warrants issued by the ICC.
Axios notes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked US President Joe Biden to prevent the ICC from issuing arrest warrants. On April 29, White House Press Secretary Karin Jean-Pierre refused to comment on the phone conversation between Netanyahu and Biden, but stated that the United States does not approve of the Hague Court’s investigation against Israel.
House Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement calling the potential arrest warrants “disgraceful” and “illegal.” He also called on the Biden administration to use all available tools to prevent such a move.
As “Armenpress” reported earlier, Israel expressed concern regarding the information that the International Criminal Court may issue an arrest warrant for high-ranking officials of the country’s government for possible violations of international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip.
At the same time, Israel’s Channel 12 TV, citing its sources in The Hague, said that this would not happen without US approval.
According to media reports, the ICC is also considering issuing arrest warrants for the leaders of the Palestinian radical movement Hamas.
On October 7, militants of the Palestinian radical movement Hamas invaded Israel, killing 1,200 people and capturing 253. About 130 hostages still remain with Hamas. Israel retaliated with military operations in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 34,400 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to local authorities.
