Netanyahu Seeks Biden's Help to Avert ICC Arrest Warrants Over Gaza War Crimes

In a bid to evade potential international prosecution, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly reached out to U.S. President Joe Biden, seeking assistance to prevent the International Criminal Court (ICC) from issuing arrest warrants for Israeli officials over alleged war crimes committed during the recent conflict in Gaza.

The ICC is currently deliberating the issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli officials in connection with the devastating war waged by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in the besieged Gaza Strip. According to Axios, a phone call between Biden and Netanyahu took place on Sunday. Two Israeli officials cited growing concerns within the Israeli government over the possibility of senior officials facing international jurisdictions as the impetus for the conversation.

The ICC's investigation follows the aftermath of the Israeli offensive, which has left tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians dead. In a grim revelation, more than 300 bodies were unearthed from mass graves at Nasser Hospital after Israeli forces withdrew from the area on April 7, underscoring the immense civilian toll of the conflict.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department's response to Israeli troop violations of Palestinian human rights has drawn criticism. Despite determining that five Israeli military battalions committed "gross violations," the State Department announced its intention to continue funding at least four of them, provided they take unspecified steps toward "remediation."

Russia has accused the U.S. of hypocrisy for opposing the ICC probe while supporting similar actions against other nations. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova lambasted Washington's stance, calling it intellectually "absurd" for the U.S. to endorse arrest warrants against some leaders while rejecting them for others.

As the devastation continues to sweep over the besieged Gaza Strip, Hamas officials are reportedly dissatisfied with Israel's reluctance to commit to a complete ceasefire and withdrawal from the territory, despite ongoing negotiations over ceasefire proposals.

The war has taken a heavy toll on Gaza's civilian population. The territory's civil defense agency warned of the potential spread of diseases and epidemics due to the accumulation of bodies under rubble, exacerbated by rising temperatures during the summer months.