The Biden administration's response to the International Criminal Court's issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant raises concerns about upholding the rule of law. As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a leader in the international community, the United States should respect the ICC's role in pursuing accountability for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC has found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant bear responsibility for grave violations during the 13-month war in Gaza, including the war crime of starvation and crimes against humanity such as murder and persecution. The death toll has surpassed 44,000, with reports of widespread hunger and lack of essential supplies like food, water, and medicine reaching catastrophic levels. While the United States is not a member of the ICC, many of its closest allies are bound by the court's decisions. Dismissing the warrants as a "rush to seek arrest" undermines the ICC's mandate to investigate and prosecute the most serious international crimes. The rule of law applies equally to all nations and individuals, regardless of political considerations. Respecting the ICC process and cooperating with investigations into alleged atrocities committed by any party is crucial to upholding international human rights standards and preventing future violations. The Biden administration should reconsider its stance and support efforts to hold perpetrators accountable through established legal mechanisms like the ICC.
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