Biden Slams ICC’s Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu as “Outrageous”

US President Joe Biden denounced the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for top Israeli officials as “outrageous.” This statement came after the ICC issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing suspicions of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence—none—between Israel and Hamas,” Biden stated, affirming strong support for Israel.

The White House opposed the arrest calls, highlighting concerns about the prosecutor’s expedited actions and procedural errors. A National Security Council spokesperson mentioned, “The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter.” However, the statement did not address a similar warrant issued for Mohammed Deif, Hamas’s military chief.

Mike Waltz, the incoming national security advisor in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, criticized the ICC’s perceived bias and promised a vigorous response starting in January. “The ICC has no credibility, and these allegations have been refuted by the US government,” Waltz declared, echoing a broader Republican outrage that includes calls for US Senate sanctions against the ICC.

Read: ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Others Over War Crimes

Neither the United States nor Israel recognizes the ICC’s jurisdiction, and both have consistently rejected its authority.

The ICC, based in The Hague, stated that the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant cover alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity from at least October 8, 2023, to May 20, 2024. Additionally, a warrant was issued for Deif, who Israel claims was killed in a July air strike in Gaza, although Hamas has not confirmed his death.