The US Senator supports an ICC arrest warrant for the Israeli leader
Independent United States Senator Bernie Sanders expressed his support for International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan's request to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders.
Sanders urged the US to respect international law.
"In my opinion, the ICC tries to uphold international law and minimum standards of good behavior. Our government must also do the same," said Sanders before the US Senate on Tuesday evening, May 21, 2024.
The statement came after, on Monday, May 20, 2024, Karim Khan submitted an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three leaders of the Palestinian Hamas group, for "war crimes and crimes against humanity" committed in the Gaza Strip.
Sanders said that when the ICC declared Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal last year, the US government welcomed the decision.
“Some people argue that it is unfair to compare Israel's democratically elected head of government with Putin, who runs an authoritarian system. "Yes, democratically elected officials can still commit war crimes," he said.
"The ICC is doing its job. They are doing what they are supposed to do. We cannot just apply international law if it is beneficial for us," Sanders added.
He reminded other senators that more than 35,000 Palestinians had been killed and nearly 80,000 others injured since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7 last year.
Despite considering Israel has the right to attack Hamas, Sanders emphasized that Netanyahu and his government have no right to launch a brutal war against women and children, or innocent Gazans.
"And for that, there must be consequences," said Sanders.
"What the ICC does is important for the global community, meaning we cannot allow humanity to fall into savagery," he added.
Sanders urged the US to respect international law.
"In my opinion, the ICC tries to uphold international law and minimum standards of good behavior. Our government must also do the same," said Sanders before the US Senate on Tuesday evening, May 21, 2024.
The statement came after, on Monday, May 20, 2024, Karim Khan submitted an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three leaders of the Palestinian Hamas group, for "war crimes and crimes against humanity" committed in the Gaza Strip.
Sanders said that when the ICC declared Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal last year, the US government welcomed the decision.
“Some people argue that it is unfair to compare Israel's democratically elected head of government with Putin, who runs an authoritarian system. "Yes, democratically elected officials can still commit war crimes," he said.
"The ICC is doing its job. They are doing what they are supposed to do. We cannot just apply international law if it is beneficial for us," Sanders added.
He reminded other senators that more than 35,000 Palestinians had been killed and nearly 80,000 others injured since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7 last year.
Despite considering Israel has the right to attack Hamas, Sanders emphasized that Netanyahu and his government have no right to launch a brutal war against women and children, or innocent Gazans.
"And for that, there must be consequences," said Sanders.
"What the ICC does is important for the global community, meaning we cannot allow humanity to fall into savagery," he added.
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