Washington, DC – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement denouncing the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant:  

“I’m deeply concerned by the ICC decision today to hand down these arrest warrants. Ever since the ICC prosecutor first initiated this investigation, I’ve believed it to be an overreach of the court’s jurisdiction. To draw any moral or legal equivalence between the actions of Hamas and the government of Israel is outrageous and undercuts the court’s credibility. 

“From the start, I’ve also expressed my concerns about broadly sanctioning the ICC, which risks doing more than just punishing the court for these particular warrants. Sanctions could undercut our allies and partners whose nationals serve at the court and could undercut the court’s efforts—that we have long welcomed—to advance accountability for atrocities across the globe, from Ukraine to Uganda.  

“The ICC should reconsider its approach, and we must focus on the top priority here: doing everything in our power to bring a swift end to the conflict in Gaza, return the hostages, and ensure humanitarian assistance reaches those suffering in this ongoing war.” 

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