US officials have sharply criticised the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, calling the decision “outrageous” and “dangerous” and asserting that it undermines Israel’s right to defend itself.
The White House rejected the ICC’s decision, announced on Thursday, with key lawmakers vowing to take action. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) called the warrants “unlawful” and pledged to push for sanctions against the ICC next year. Thune emphasised that Israel has every right to defend itself, saying, “The ICC’s rogue actions only enable the terrorists who seek to wipe Israel off the map.”
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a staunch ally of President-elect Donald Trump, joined in the criticism, calling the ICC a “dangerous joke.” Graham also urged the US Senate to sanction the ICC, saying the court’s actions were irresponsible.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) also condemned the arrest warrants, calling them “shameful.” Jeffries expressed strong support for Israel, reiterating that America’s commitment to Israel’s security is “ironclad.” He vowed that Democrats would stand by Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism, adding, “I stand with the Biden administration in fundamentally rejecting this unserious decision.”
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also weighed in, calling the ICC’s actions “outrageous and disgraceful.” Pompeo described the arrest warrants as an act of antisemitism, accusing the court of rewarding Hamas for its actions. “This is not justice,” Pompeo wrote on social media platform X.
The White House National Security Council disapproved, noting that the US does not recognise the ICC’s authority. A spokesperson for the National Security Council said the US remains “deeply concerned” by the ICC’s rush to issue arrest warrants and criticised the “troubling process errors” that led to the decision. The US also pointed out that ICC prosecutor Karim Khan had failed to meet with Israeli officials during the investigation into alleged war crimes.
Stephanie Hallett, the US deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Israel, further stressed that the ICC had no jurisdiction over Israel, agreeing with the Israeli government’s stance as Israel is not a member of the court. Hallett also pointed out Khan’s refusal to visit Israel during the investigation.
The ICC’s warrants accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of “crimes against humanity and war crimes” related to Israel’s military operations in Gaza since October 8, which have resulted in significant loss of life, with over 44,000 Palestinians reported dead by the Hamas-run Ministry of Health.
In addition to the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, the ICC also sought an arrest warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, the key figure behind the October 7 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the kidnapping of 251 others.
Several countries have also spoken out in response to the ICC’s decision. Argentina and Hungary joined the US in rejecting the court’s ruling, particularly criticising the idea that Israel’s actions were comparable to those of Hamas. The Netherlands, where the ICC is based, has pledged to uphold the arrest warrants, stating that it would seek to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant should they set foot on Dutch soil.
Meanwhile, the UK, France, and Italy have expressed support for the ICC but indicated they would consult with other European leaders to determine their action regarding the warrants. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the decision was a legal matter, not a political one, urging EU member nations to respect the arrest warrants.
While Israel does not face immediate legal consequences from the ICC due to its non-membership in the court, the warrants have raised concerns about further isolating the Jewish state amid the
