April 29, 2024, New York, NY—American Jewish Congress President Daniel Rosen, Chairman Jack Rosen, Vice President Dr. Munr Kazmir, and Secretary Dr. Ben Chouake released this statement in response to reports about possible ICC actions against Israel:
“The American Jewish Congress is deeply concerned by reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) might issue arrest warrants or other punitive action against senior Israeli officials for the war in Gaza. If substantiated, these warrants would represent an illegitimate overreach by the ICC, would deal a death blow to the negotiations to release hostages in Gaza, and would foment more terrorism in the Middle East and around the world.
We are calling on the Biden Administration to preemptively make it clear that any possible measures by the ICC against Israel constitute an affront to Israel’s right to self-defense and run counter to international practices.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) called on the ICC to stand down immediately following reports on such possible warrants against Israel, and he rightly pointed out that “the real criminals are with Hamas and in Iran.” Such a message must be transmitted loud and clear to the ICC and to all those that seek to reprehensibly weaponize legal instruments to harm Israel and its security. We thank the Democratic and Republican members of Congress that have spoken out and demonstrated how condemnation of the ICC’s actions would be overwhelming and bipartisan in the U.S. Congress.
Putting Israel on the same footing as the terror organization Hamas is morally misguided, and a travesty of justice. By doing so, the ICC would be setting an abhorrent precedent that deals a blow to all nations defending themselves from terrorism and terrorist entities.
In addition, not only would such punitive actions be baseless and misguided, but they would jeopardize any possible agreement to guarantee the release of the American, Israeli, and other hostages held in Gaza. Secretary Blinken, Israeli officials, and Middle East partners have been involved in extensive negotiations to secure the release of the innocent civilians that have been held illegally in Gaza for over 200 days now. Any ICC steps would embolden Hamas terrorists and incentivize them to not release the hostages.”