Media Wire Express Correspondent
Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity, recently visited the White House for a meeting with Brett McGurk, President Joe Biden’s Middle East envoy.
This visit comes just weeks after the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest.
Gallant shared on social media that he met with McGurk on Tuesday to discuss potential negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. In his posts on Facebook and X, he expressed optimism, stating that there was “a real possibility for a breakthrough” in the discussions. He also included photos of himself happily shaking hands with McGurk, who has played a significant role in shaping the Biden administration’s policy on Gaza.
Additionally, Gallant mentioned that this meeting was part of a series of engagements in Washington, D.C. However, a scheduled meeting with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy was canceled after protests erupted outside his hotel in New York City last week.
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On November 21, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for the arrest of Yoav Gallant, the former Israeli defense minister, over serious allegations of crimes against humanity. The charges include using starvation as a method of warfare and deliberately targeting civilians in Gaza.
Gallant is no longer part of Israel’s government. He served as defense minister during a tumultuous period marked by significant military actions in Gaza, but was replaced last month by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opted for a successor deemed more loyal to his administration.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has indicated that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that former Israeli officials Yoav Gallant and Benjamin Netanyahu “intentionally and knowingly” deprived Palestinians in Gaza of essential needs like food and water. Their actions, which allegedly contributed to the deteriorating living conditions in Gaza, have been classified as crimes against humanity.
Among the 124 countries that are parties to the ICC’s statute, several, including Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands, have committed to enforcing the warrants for Gallant and Netanyahu if given the chance. Currently, the ICC lists both men as “at large.”
While the U.S. has filed war crimes charges against two high-ranking Syrian officials, it has rejected the legitimacy of the warrants issued for the Israeli leaders, which raises questions about the overall credibility of the court. This stance has sparked concern among many international law experts. Some conservative members of Congress have even proposed legislation that would sanction ICC prosecutors pursuing cases against Netanyahu and Gallant, with a few lawmakers going so far as to threaten action against the Hague.
The fact that the U.S. not only overlooks the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant but also welcomed Gallant for a visit to the White House highlights the Biden administration’s ongoing commitment to supporting Israel, even when it involves former officials facing serious allegations.
