
<p>In a shocking move, one-time allies of Israel, France, and Belgium have turned their back on the Jewish State by supporting the International Criminal Court&#8217;s (ICC) charges of War Crimes against Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister.</p>



<p>The U.S. has strongly rebuked the ICC&#8217;s charges that equates Israel&#8217;s actions since the October 7 attacks in defending itself, with the horrific perpetrators of the attacks – Hamas. The ICC has issued warrants for the two top Israeli officials as well as three Hamas leaders — Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel.</p>



<p>Although Netanyahu and Gallant do not face imminent arrest, the announcement was a symbolic blow that deepens Israel’s isolation over the war in Gaza. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz headed to France in response.</p>



<p>Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed about 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250. Since then, several of the remaining hostages have been killed, and there have been reports and proof of torture, rape, and sexual abuse of those still being held in mostly unknown locations by Hamas and other terrorist affiliates.  ;</p>



<p>Benjamin Netanyahu has angrily condemned the International Criminal Court&#8217;s prosecutor for seeking arrest warrants for him alongside Hamas&#8217;s leaders over alleged war crimes in the Gaza conflict. Netanyahu said he rejected with disgust that &#8220;democratic Israel&#8221; had been compared with what he called &#8220;mass murderers.&#8221;</p>



<p>Netanyahu&#8217;s comments have been echoed by U.S. President Joe Biden, who said there was “no equivalence between Israel and Hamas.”</p>



<p> ;&#8220;It&#8217;s clear Israel wants to do all it can to ensure civilian protection,&#8221; Mr Biden added.</p>



<p>U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed the president&#8217;s condemnation, saying Washington &#8220;fundamentally rejects&#8221; the move. &#8220;It is shameful,&#8221; he said. &#8220;[The] ICC has no jurisdiction over this matter.&#8221;</p>



<p>Blinken also suggested the request for arrest warrants would jeopardize ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire deal.</p>



<p>The chief ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, said there were reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant bore criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Gallant described the ICC&#8217;s arrest warrants against him and the prime minister as a &#8220;disgraceful&#8221; attempt to interfere in the war.</p>

France and Belgium Turn on Israel and Support ICC Charges of War Crimes
