Most envoys to UN tight-lipped about ICC prosecutor’s decision
Here at the United Nations headquarters, most ambassadors did not want to comment about the ICC chief prosecutor’s decision to submit an application for arrest warrants.
As one said, it’s like a hot potato that nobody wants to touch right now. We spent all day, trying to talk to ambassadors, asking them questions as they went in and out of Security Council meetings, but in almost all instances, our questions were ignored.
Most countries clearly want to let the judicial process play out before commenting. And that was the sentiment articulated by Malta’s ambassador to the UN, a security council member.
There is a sense here of US double standards, and people point to March of last year, when the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
At the time, the US and other Western countries mostly applauded that decision by the ICC. But now, when the ICC closes in on a possible arrest warrant for Israeli officials, the US calls it outrageous.
US president ‘moving closer to Israel’ after ICC seeks arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant
Joe Biden actually just spoke about this from the White House and it comes at a time when tension between the US and Israel has really been growing over the US’s ignored warning for Israel not to invade Rafah.
But now, with this International Criminal Court move to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu, it seems that Biden is moving closer to Israel.
As far as what can the US do about this effort to seek an ICC arrest warrant, well, it can make strong statements in support of Israel. There are also the Republican senators who issued a letter warning that they could try to seek sanctions against ICC staff members.
The biggest leverage the US may have, given that it is not a member of the ICC itself, is that it could pressure its allies – most European nations that are signatories [to the ICC] – to not take action to arrest these people if the arrest warrants were to be granted.
There certainly would be a lot of pressure and a lot of tension that those European allies of the US would be under in trying to navigate that potential conflict of interest.
UN expert on Palestine says ICC prosecutor’s decision is historic
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, says she understands that for the people of war-torn Gaza, the ICC prosecutor’s move to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant may appear too little too late.
But “for me, it’s a historical, historical day,” Albanese told Al Jazeera.
“It’s not a small thing that the ICC prosecutor [is seeking] arrest warrants for two Israeli leaders and it’s not just for war crimes… it’s for crimes that have been committed intentionally and wilfully – the all-state policy that has animated this campaign against the population in Gaza is put into question,” she said.
“Without condoning or justifying the crimes that have been committed by Hamas, these crimes should have been investigated, and prosecuted. It shouldn’t have given leeway to Israel to start a war which has turned into a genocidal war against the entire Palestinian population.”
“Palestine was a litmus test for the credibility of the court and this prosecutor in particular. And after October 7, after October 8, he was compelled to act,” she added.
