Last month the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant under the baseless charges of "war crimes "and "crimes against humanity."
This decision is a shameful stain on the ICC and is a threat not only to Israel but to all democracies. The truth is that despite the difficult realities on the ground:
Israel has taken unprecedented steps to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza, including giving evacuation warnings, establishing safe corridors for civilians to exit combat areas, and calling off air strikes when civilians are unexpectedly present.
Israel is not deliberately targeting civilians and the reality that civilians die in war in no way means Israel’s actions are illegal or unjustified.
Israel has worked to ensure aid continues to enter into Gaza, carrying out its legal obligation to facilitate entry of food during this war.
This is why President Biden and leaders in Congress rejected the ICC’s claims, making it clear that the U.S. is committed to standing with its ally Israel as yet another international body seeks to isolate and delegitimize the Jewish state.
Earlier this year the House passed a bipartisan bill to sanction persons who aid efforts by the ICC to prosecute Americans or Israelis and now the bill is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
