Joe Biden slams 'outrageous' ICC arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza

US President Joe Biden yesterday attacked arsenic ‘outrageous’ the issuing of an apprehension warrant against Israel’s premier minister, arsenic splits among occidental leaders were laid bare.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant to detain Benjamin Netanyahu and his erstwhile defence curate Yoav Gallant implicit alleged war crimes successful Gaza.

Britain has said it volition travel its ‘legal obligations’, but the outgoing US President branded the ICC’s determination ‘outrageous’.

‘Let maine beryllium wide erstwhile again: immoderate the ICC mightiness imply, determination is nary equivalence – nary –between Israel and Hamas. We volition ever basal with Israel against threats to its security,’ Mr Biden said successful a statement. 

A warrant was besides issued for Hamas subject commandant Mohammed Deif, though Israel has said helium was killed successful an aerial onslaught successful Gaza successful July.

US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee nationalist information advisor Mike Waltz warned determination would beryllium a ‘strong effect to the anti-semitic bias of the ICC and UN travel January’.

Israel has besides denounced the ICC decision, with Mr Netanyahu saying Israel ‘rejects with disgust the absurd and mendacious actions’. And Hungarian premier curate Viktor Orban invited Mr Netanyahu to sojourn Hungary, pledging ‘if helium comes, the ICC ruling volition person nary effect successful Hungary’.

But respective different European countries – including the Netherlands, Finland, the Irish Republic, Italy and Spain – person said they would conscionable their

ICC commitments. Germany and France would not accidental what they would bash if the Israeli person entered their territory.

Britain has said the UK would follow its ‘legal obligations’, but ministers person declined to explicitly corroborate whether Mr Netanyahu would beryllium arrested if helium acceptable ft successful the UK. 

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper sidestepped the question during a bid of broadcast interviews yesterday, prompting disapproval from a starring barrister.

Sir Geoffrey Nice KC, who prosecuted Slobodan Milosevic told Times Radio it was ‘very unfortunate to perceive authorities leaders of this state trying to debar the regularisation of law’.

The ICC’s determination sparked a furious backlash, with critics – including Tory erstwhile location caput Suella Braverman – saying it raised doubts astir the court’s judgment.

She told the Mail: ‘This outrageous governmental determination from the tribunal calls into superior question the ICC’s judgment. Yesterday’s determination volition permission a people of shame connected the court. To equate Hamas’s terrorists with Israel’s combat for endurance is disgraceful.’

But Downing Street backed the ICC connected Thursday aft it issued the apprehension warrants, saying the Government respected the independency of the court.

A home tribunal process would beryllium required earlier Mr Netanyahu faced apprehension if helium visited the UK.

Yesterday No 10 said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer would beryllium blessed to speech to Mr Netanyahu, successful spite of the apprehension warrant.

The PM’s authoritative spokesperson said: ‘The Prime Minister volition proceed to talk to the premier curate of Israel and so different allies successful bid to behaviour the indispensable concern of reaching a ceasefire successful the Middle East.’