The ICC’s Accusations Of War Crimes Don't Deter Biden From Supporting Israel

President Joe Biden swiftly condemned the Monday decision by the International Criminal Court’s top war crimes prosecutor to seek arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over the U.S.-backed military offensive in Gaza — doubling down on his administration’s support for Israel’s war effort, despite growing anger from the international community and his own Democratic voter base.

In a highly-anticipated announcement, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan requested warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over their siege on the Palestinian enclave that, almost eight months in, has killed more than 35,000 people and displaced 80% of the population.

Khan is also seeking arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders — Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh – over their role in the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and saw 250 taken hostage.

Khan accused all five figures of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity both in Gaza and in Israel. Netanyahu has condemned the allegations as a “disgrace” and antisemitic. Hamas denounced the charges against its own leaders, saying the move “equates the victim with the executioner” and arguing the group has the right to resist Israel’s occupation.

While Israel is not a member of the ICC, the ICC can still prosecute Israeli officials because the crimes were allegedly committed by Israeli forces on Palestinian territory, and the ICC recognizes Palestine as a member state.

Without mentioning the arrest warrants for Hamas leaders, Biden called Khan’s efforts to seek warrants against Israeli leaders “outrageous.”

“Let me be clear: We reject the ICC’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders,” the