ICC’s Netanyahu warrant: Letters to the Editor — May 23, 2024

International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan speaks during a press conference. AFP via Getty Images

The Issue: The ICC filing applications for arrest warrants against Israeli and Hamas leaders.

The International Criminal Court has set some kind of record. It has moved to issue arrest warrants for the leaders of Israel and Hamas for war crimes while the war is still being waged (“ICC is out to bust Bibi,” May 21).

Even with blatant acts of genocide in certain countries in Africa and the Yugoslav wars, investigations and arrest warrants took years to materialize.

How can you conduct a thorough investigation of this magnitude in an active combat zone that is only about eight months old?

Sean P. Kelly

Farmingdale

Kudos to International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. He deserves credit for seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders — Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Deif — marking a significant development in international justice. The charges include causing extermination, using starvation as a method of war and deliberately targeting civilians.

Tragically, the United States bears much of the responsibility for supporting Israel’s criminal behavior with its decades-long economic and military support.

Ultimately, the ICC’s actions reflect broader political and ethical questions about international law and accountability, illustrating a potential turning point in how global justice is pursued and perceived.

Jagjit Singh

Los Altos, Calif.

The ICC decision to prosecute Israeli leadership — including Netanyahu — would be laughable if it wasn’t so sad.

The court makes a mockery of itself with its most recent proclamation. The fact that it has no teeth compels me to paraphrase Andrew Jackson: “The ICC has made its decision, now let them enforce it.”

Peter W. Kelly

Hazlet, NJ

There is a misconception that the Israel-Hamas war is a conflict in which both sides are guilty. Hamas is at fault.

War is an ugly thing, but sometimes misguided humanitarianism makes it much uglier.

Gamaliel Isaac

Manhattan

“Don’t cross the red line,” President Biden said. Then he remained silent. But apparently the International Criminal Court has had enough: It now aims to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.

The US president, who is complicit in an alleged genocide started by Israel through the supply of arms, has called the ICC’s warrant scandalous. How can such a big country act so small?

Jan Verniers

Arnhem, The Netherlands

It started with the universities, and now has spread to the ICC. To equate Netanyahu’s actions with Hamas is ridiculous. Bibi has alerted Palestinians before IDF attacks — a far cry from Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7.

Carl Rosenberg

Great Neck

The ICC is mandated to prosecute military and political leaders who are responsible for the commission of international crimes and mass human rights violations and would not face prosecution in national courts.

Supporters of the ICC argue the court is a neutral institution. But this could not be further from the truth. All inter-governmental institutions are used for political advantage.

Many ICC supporters are Palestinian sympathizers who have called for the prosecution of Benjamin Netanyahu for nearly two decades. Now the ICC has the Israeli prime minister in its crosshairs, showing its true colors.

This decision is likely to backfire and cause a tear in the fabric of the court. The prosecutor’s intent to charge Hamas leaders is a disguise to indicate the ICC to be a neutral institution. This could likely damage the court’s existence as countries that support Israel or Hamas will reconsider their relationship with it.

Harry Rhea

Newark

Both the Israeli government and Hamas officials present very different statistics about casualties in Gaza. So why not have a trial and get the facts?

Daniel Kuncio

Manhattan

Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to [email protected]. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.