While Israel and Hamas have understandably outright rejected the recent ICC Chief Prosecutor’s findings of probable cause for war crimes and crimes against humanity over two of Israel’s senior leaders and three of Hamas’ equivalents, multiple nations have now pledged their support for the right of the ICC to file those charges and acceptance of its jurisdiction in this criminal matter.
In a statement issued soon after the ICC charges were revealed, France’s Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs announced that “France supports the International Criminal Court, its independence, and the fight against impunity in all situations.”
In the statement, the Ministry repeated its condemnation of Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, but followed up with this regarding the allegations against Israel:
“With regard to Israel, it will be up to the Pre-Trial Chamber of the Court to decide on the issuance of these warrants, after examining the evidence put forward by the Prosecutor to support her accusations, taking into account the principle of complementarity and the possible action of the Israeli courts,” the statement read. “For many months, France has been warning about the imperative of strict compliance with international humanitarian law, and in particular about the unacceptable nature of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip and insufficient humanitarian access.”
The same day Germany issued a statement of its own via its Foreign Office:
“The International Criminal Court is a fundamental achievement of the international community, which Germany has always supported. Germany respects its independence and procedural procedures like those of all other international courts,” the statement read. “This includes that the pre-trial chamber now has to decide on the chief prosecutor's applications for the issuance of arrest warrants.”
The Foreign Office did criticize making simultaneous charges against Hamas and Israel, stating that doing so has “created the false impression of equation” between the acts of the two countries. Germany has in the past supported Israel’s stance that Hamas started this conflict and should be considered the more guilty part, but it has shifted from that somewhat since the number of those Palestinians Israel murdered in Gaza has soared to over 35,000, including more than 15,000 children.
In Belgium, Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib extended her country’s backing for what the ICC is doing in an online release.
“The request submitted by the Court's prosecutor, Karim Khan, for arrest warrants against both Hamas and Israeli officials is an important step in the investigation of the situation in Palestine," Lahbib said. “Crimes committed in Gaza must be prosecuted at the highest level, regardless of the perpetrators. The fight against impunity wherever crimes occur is a priority for Belgium.”
Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs responded in a similar manner.
“War crimes & crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Israel and Palestine from at least 7 October 2023 must be prosecuted independently and impartially regardless of the perpetrators,” the Slovenian MFEA wrote in a post on the social media platform X. “Accountability is crucial to prevent atrocities and to guarantee peace.”
“Slovenia is a staunch supporter of the International Criminal Court and welcomes this progress of the investigation of the situation in Palestine,” it added.
France, Germany, Belgium, and Slovenia are all signatories to the Rome Statute which created the International Criminal Court. Their nations also ratified the Rome Statute through their legislatures.
In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin of the People’s Republic of China also endorsed the ICC action as well, though a bit less strongly than other nations.
“China has always stood on the side of justice and international law on the Palestinian issue," Wang said.
“The collective punishment of the Palestinian people should not be continued,” he continued. “It is hoped that the ICC will uphold its objective and impartial position and exercise its powers in accordance with the law.”
South Africa, the nation which charged Israel with genocide in the United Nations International Court of Justice in January 2024, also declared its backing for the actions of the ICC Chief Prosecutor this week.
In a statement released by his office, President Cyril Ramaphosa, also endorsed the ICC’s decision to file charges against the leaders of both Israel and Hamas.
“The law must be applied equally to all in order to uphold the international rule of law, ensure accountability for those that commit heinous crimes and protect the rights of victims," Ramaphosa said.
In the United Kingdom, a spokesperson representing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did not outright reject the decision of the International Criminal Court to file charges against Israel and Hamas, or the request for arrest warrants, but he did question the judgment of the court in taking this step at this time.
The demand for arrest warrants, Sunak’s spokesperson said, is “not helpful in relation to reaching a pause in the fighting, getting hostages out or getting humanitarian aid in.”
In the United States, puppet Joe Biden declared the ICC investigation, allegations of crimes by Israel’s leaders, and request for arrest warrants “outrageous”.
“Let me be clear: Whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas,” Biden said in a statement issued on his behalf by the White House. “We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.
The U.S. State Department, the House of Representatives, and a bipartisan collection of corrupt Senators have united in statements saying they will be seeking sanctions against the ICC Chief Prosecutor and others connected with the Court, as punishment for what they have done.
Those ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan charged with having committed war crimes and crimes against humanity since October 7, 2023, in the Israel-Hamas war are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant of Israel; and Yahya Sinwar, Head of the Islamic Resistance Movement, otherwise known as Hamas; Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, also known as DEIF, and who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Al-Qassam Brigades.