The US is set to weigh in on the International Criminal Court’s intention to seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas officials, and Israeli officials over the war in Gaza, according to court documents.
The Biden administration’s potential involvement was revealed by Middle East Eye earlier this month. On Monday, the ICC released court filings showing the US government joining others in filing a brief on the case, which may delay the decision on arrest warrants.
This move is significant as the US had previously lobbied against the ICC. Unlike the UK, the US is not a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the ICC.
The interest in the ICC deliberations highlights the global implications of the court’s decision. For advocates of Palestine, the prosecutor’s decision to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other officials is seen as a pivotal moment in international law.
Israel has criticized the decision, and the US has objected, emphasizing the difference between Hamas and Israel. Notably, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion declaring Israel’s occupation of the West Bank unlawful and a breach of apartheid laws.