BREAKING: ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu & Hamas Leaders
Biden stands by Netanyahu, even as his own White House staff openly rebukes him for refusing to uphold US and international human rights law
Back in May I reported on the ICC’s application for arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders. Now, in a historic move, the International Criminal Court has formally issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, who is believed to be dead. While the Biden administration quickly condemned the arrest warrant, Netanyahu went a step further and accused the ICC of antisemitism. Meanwhile, the EU and hundreds of ICC member states confirmed they would enforce the arrest warrant should Netanyahu travel to any of those states. Netanyahu has already cancelled his trip to the Netherlands to avoid arrest. What do this arrest warrants mean, what is happening in the Biden White House, and what actions can we take to help push through a peaceful resolution? Let’s Address This.
What Do These Arrest Warrants Mean?
For the first time in history the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for a western allied leader, in this case Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The ICC ordered:
The Chamber issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest.
On the question of jurisdiction, the ICC reports:
At the outset, the Chamber considered that the alleged conduct of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant falls within the jurisdiction of the Court. The Chamber recalled that, in a previous composition, it already decided that the Court’s jurisdiction in the situation extended to Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
And finally the ICC issued its warrant for the following specific crimes:
With regard to the crimes, the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu…and Mr Gallant…each bear criminal responsibility for: the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts, for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population, for intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024. The aforementioned restrictions together with cutting off electricity and reducing fuel supply also had a severe impact on the availability of water in Gaza and the ability of hospitals to provide medical care.
In response to the detailed arrest warrant, Netanyahu’s immediate response has been to claim antisemitism. But this assertion is without merit. Notwithstanding the objective analysis to hold accountable both Israeli and Hamas leaders for war crimes, among the key advisors to the ICC and Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan in issuing these arrest warrants is 94-year-old attorney and Nazi death camp survivor, Theodor Meron.
One of the expert panelists who co-authored the report…is 94-year-old Theodor Meron, a renowned scholar of international and humanitarian law and a Holocaust survivor who was imprisoned for four years in a Nazi concentration camp. During the early part of his career, the polymath Meron was a practicing attorney, a diplomat and an ambassador representing the state of Israel. Since the late 1970s, when he left Israel and relocated to New York, he has been a professor of international law, a judge and a scholar of human rights law.
To accuse a Holocaust survivor applying the law objectively of ‘antisemitism’ is the height of absurdity. Meanwhile, the European Union calls the ICC’s arrest warrants “binding” and that it “should be implemented by all 124 member states.” This is an incredibly important step towards justice, and establishes that no head of state is above international law. This interview by renowned International human rights lawyer Sara Elizabeth Dill details the importance of enforcing this arrest warrant. (Interview from 1:27-1:35).
Unfortunately, Joe Biden continues to maintain a double standard on US and international law—even as his own staff rebukes him during his final months in office.
What Is Happening Inside the Biden White House?
An anonymous letter from a group of White House employees, released to various press outlets including Politico, The New Republic, Intercept, along with FedsUnited4Peace’s post on LinkedIn, exposes the deep concerns about U.S. complicity in the ongoing violence. This protest offers a rare window into the internal fractures within the Biden administration, the Democratic Party, and America’s foreign policy machinery.
Internal Party Tensions: The Dems’ Foreign Policy Divide
The letter is a bold and unprecedented move from White House employees. As I previously wrote, Secretaries Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin issued a demand on October 13, 2024 that Israel take “measurable actions” to mitigate the humanitarian crisis within 30 days or face suspension of military aid. The letter called for the Biden administration to follow its own ultimatum from a little over a month ago and halt military aid to Israel. These employees cite an “ever-present and strong concern within the federal government” about U.S. involvement in the crisis, imploring the administration to recognize that “its legacy is this conflict.”
This highlights a deepening divide within the Democratic Party. Progressives, galvanized by the staggering deaths of more than 186,000 civilians by some scholarly estimates—are demanding a reevaluation of U.S. foreign aid policies. Meanwhile, the party’s more moderate wing, wary of alienating key voting blocs or geopolitical allies, continues to back Biden’s long standing support for Israel.
The letter underscores this tension, pointing to how the U.S. military aid package to Israel has “enabled the destruction of entire communities and violated international law.” For Biden, navigating this internal discord will not only shape his policy on Gaza but could also pave the way for Trump to continue on this path.
The Humanitarian Crisis and U.S. Complicity
At the heart of this protest is a moral imperative: the United States cannot claim to champion human rights while actively enabling what many describe as war crimes. The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza—“with credible estimates of over 200,000 dead or missing”—is impossible to ignore. Yet, as the letter points out, “U.S. funding and weapons are directly contributing to this crisis.”
This raises critical legal and ethical questions. The Arms Export Control Act and the War Crimes Act explicitly prohibit U.S. military aid to countries engaged in gross human rights abuses, yet the administration’s support for Israel continues unabated. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned Israel’s actions as war crimes, a sentiment echoed by U.S. legal scholars and international law experts.
As even the ICC’s arrest warrants attest, the targeting of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure—“power grids, water systems, hospitals, and schools”—has left millions without basic necessities, compounding the suffering. Such acts, described as collective punishment, challenge the very notion of Israel’s military campaign as defensive.
By continuing military aid, the Biden administration risks not only enabling these actions but also eroding the United States’ credibility on the global stage. The White House’s failure to enforce its own demands for humanitarian measures—such as its ultimatum for “concrete, measurable actions” issued to Israel on October 13—further weakens its position as a global advocate for human rights. Thus why it is that much more devastating that this week alone, the US Senate voted 82-18 to continue to arm Netanyahu, and the US Ambassador to the UN vetoed yet another binding ceasefire and hostage release resolution. In both instances, the Biden administration teamed up with Republican leadership to ensure arms to Netanyahu continued unabated.
How Can We Act For Justice?
This moment echoes historical precedents where domestic dissent shaped U.S. foreign policy. Just as protests against the Vietnam War and apartheid in South Africa pressured the U.S. government to change course, the voices of these employees—and the growing chorus of progressive lawmakers and activists—can be a turning point in America’s approach to Israel and Palestine. Here are some actions you can take today to help effectuate this much needed change.
Raise Your Voice
Voicing your opinion to Congress is one of the most direct ways to influence policy and hold elected officials accountable. Find your member of Congress and contact them. There are many issues you can voice your opinion about. Here are just a few:
Demand Accountability of US Involvement in the Bombing of Gaza
Call for De-escalation and Ceasefire in Israel and Occupied Palestine
Demand the US Government honor and enforce ICC arrest warrants
Support Palestinians in Crisis
As we enter the season of giving, donating to organizations like World Central Kitchen, UNRWA, and UNFPA is a lifeline for the millions of Palestinians facing unimaginable suffering amid the genocide in Gaza.
World Central Kitchen delivers urgently needed meals to those who have lost access to food amidst the destruction.
UNRWA provides essential support such as shelter, healthcare, and education to displaced Palestinian families.
UNFPA ensures that women and girls receive life-saving reproductive healthcare and protection in the midst of this humanitarian crisis.
Supporting these organizations not only delivers critical relief but also sends a powerful message of solidarity to those enduring unimaginable hardship.
The Power of Peaceful Protests
Attending or organizing local vigils and protests is a powerful way to stand in solidarity with Palestinians and amplify the call for justice in your community. These gatherings not only honor the lives lost in the ongoing genocide but also serve as a visible reminder that people around the world refuse to remain silent in the face of such atrocities. If you cannot find a protest or vigil in your area, take the lead and organize one.
Conclusion
The ICC’s arrest warrants, and the worldwide response in support of them, demonstrate the global recognition and imperative to end this genocide and hold accountable those responsible. The protest within the White House reflects the growing pressure on the Biden administration to address the catastrophic consequences of its foreign policy decisions. In its last two months, the Biden administration must decide: Will it continue to prioritize its geopolitical alliances at the expense of its moral and legal obligations? Or will it rise to the challenge and align its actions with the principles of justice and human rights it claims to uphold?
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not just a tragedy for Palestinians—it is a test of U.S. values, laws, and leadership on the global stage. Moreover, it serves as a critical test of international institutions, which must rise to the occasion to protect human rights and uphold global justice. The world is watching, and the stakes have never been higher.
I have been in touch with many in Gaza over the last year, giving all my spare $$ to them. They are starving, ill (and in need of medication) drowning like rats in their tent and hanging on by a thread of hope. They need winter clothes, tarps, etc. I am finally HERE as a paid subscriber and grateful for your commitment to the truth!! I've been reading your articles for months, Qasim.
I pray the ICJ arrest warrants and the commitment of so many countries to honor them, marks a turning of tide for Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. Israel's evil is now exposed, it is becoming a pariah state: all WELL deserved. I pray for a ceasefire and for aid allowed into Gaza. I pray for my friends there.
As Caitlin Johnstone pointed out weeks ago, these continued claims of "antisemitism" for actions that are anti-genocide will only serve in the long tlrun to conflate Judaism with perpetrators of genocide, leading to increased *actual* antisemitism. Israel is hurting the global Jewish community.