ICC Issues Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu on Gaza War Crimes Charges
Sanctions Imposed as Netanyahu Visits the United States
Trump Continues Pro-Israel Policy
President Donald Trump, who advocates a pro-Israel policy, has now stepped in to save Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump announced sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to the ICC issuing an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on charges of war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Since taking office, President Trump has continued his overtly pro-Israel stance, including approving $1 billion in arms support, a Gaza reconstruction plan biased toward Israel, and now these ICC sanctions.
Foreign media such as CNN reported on the 6th (local time) that President Trump signed an executive order imposing economic and travel sanctions on ICC personnel investigating U.S. citizens and allies including Israel. This executive order is a measure against the ICC's issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli government leaders on charges of war crimes in the Gaza Strip conflict.
In November last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu, then Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and the late Shnewar, the leader of the Palestinian armed group Hamas. At the time of the warrant issuance, the U.S. and Israel opposed the ICC's warrant application, claiming it was politically motivated. However, U.S. President Joe Biden only expressed a negative stance and did not impose separate sanctions on the ICC. After the November elections last year, the Republican-controlled Senate introduced a bill to sanction the ICC, and the bill has now passed the House of Representatives.
President Trump's decision to sanction the ICC came during Netanyahu's visit to the U.S. Netanyahu held a summit with President Trump on the 4th and remained in the U.S. until that day to complete his remaining schedule. The so-called Gaza plan, which involves relocating Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip to other places, was also proposed at this time. Despite criticism that U.S.-made weapons are being used to kill civilians, the decision to approve $1 billion in arms support was the same. President Trump continues to openly favor Israel.
The ICC sanctions were already anticipated. Israeli media Walla reported last month that President Trump was preparing sanctions such as asset freezes and travel restrictions against ICC officials including Prosecutor Karim Khan. Prosecutor Khan, upon hearing of the U.S. sanctions against the ICC, stated that there was no change in his position on the decision and criticized Israel for not making substantial efforts to investigate allegations of war crimes in Palestine on its own.
This is the second time the U.S. has sanctioned the ICC. However, the first sanctions were in response to ICC issuing warrants against U.S. nationals. During his first term, President Trump also sanctioned the ICC for investigating alleged war crimes by U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan, calling it a violation of sovereignty. The U.S. is not a member of the ICC. The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
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