Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Monday ripped what he called the “outrageous decision” of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) prosecutor to seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“This outrageous decision is truly a slap in the face to the independent judiciary of Israel, which is renowned for their independence,” Graham said in a statement, vowing to push for sanctions against the ICC.
“We must not forget as a nation the International Criminal Court threatened to bring action against American forces in Afghanistan – and we are a non-member,” he said.
“I will feverishly work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle in both chambers to levy damning sanctions against the ICC,” he added.
The prosecutor, Karim Khan, said he believes Netanyahu, Gallant and three Hamas officials are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza and Israel.
Gaza health officials estimate more than 35,000 Palestinians have died since the Israeli invasion of Gaza, which was in response to attacks by Hamas militants on Israeli soldiers and civilians on Oct. 7, which killed more than 1,000 Israelis.
Graham said that Khan’s team of prosecutors had told him and other senators that it would first conduct a lengthy investigation before bringing charges.
“Prosecutor Khan’s team was supposed to be in Israel today to arrange a meeting for next week with the prosecutor’s office about the allegations. I was told by ICC staff that the investigation would likely take months and not weeks, and that there would be meaningful consultation with the State of Israel,” Graham said.
But the ICC prosecutors instead announced the arrest warrants.
“I feel that I was lied to and that my colleagues were lied to. Prosecutor Khan is drunk with self-importance and has done a lot of damage to the peace process and to the ability to find a way forward,” Graham said.