Amnesty Int’l Accuses Trump Of Contempt Of Court For Receiving Israeli Leader Wanted By ICC
Adedokun Waliyu 
The ICC had in 2024 declared Natanyahu wanted for charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza, which has claimed lives of thousands of Palestinians.
Global human rights body, the Amnesty International has accused the United States under President Donald Trump, of contempt of court for welcoming Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Natanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Amnesty International in a statement issued on Wednesday said that former President Joe Biden’s administration flouted any efforts at international justice for Palestine, and that by not arresting Netanyahu or subjecting him to US investigations, President Trump is welcoming him as the first foreign leader to visit the White House since his (Trump) inauguration.
The ICC had in 2024 declared Natanyahu wanted for charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza, which has claimed lives of thousands of Palestinians.
The charges were brought against the Israeli Prime Minister by South Africa and other countries who accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
The US government which was expected to arrest, investigate Natanyahu or facilitate his arrest and prosecution during former President Joe Biden took no action towards that.
Rather, Netanyahu arrived in the United States on Sunday for meetings with Trump and others in his administration to discuss the Gaza ceasefire deal and his Middle East plans.
Netanyahu received a red carpet welcome from senior Israeli officials and an honour guard bearing US and Israeli flags at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on his arrival.
Netanyahu’s visit to the US will last till the weekend as he meets with Trump, the US military leaders at the Pentagon on Wednesday, followed by meetings with members of Congress on Thursday.
Reacting to the visit, Amnesty International faulted the Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to the US, saying that the US has a clear obligation under the Geneva Conventions to search for and try or extradite persons accused of having committed or ordered the commission of war crimes.
According to Amnesty International, there must be no ‘safe haven’ for individuals – including Natanyahu, alleged to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The global human rights organisation said, “By welcoming Israeli PM Netanyahu, wanted by the ICC to face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the United States is showing contempt for international justice.
“The Biden administration flouted any efforts at international justice for Palestine. Now, by not arresting Netanyahu or subjecting him to US investigations, President Trump is doubling down welcoming him as the first foreign leader to visit the White House since the inauguration.
“The US has a clear obligation under the Geneva Conventions to search for & try or extradite persons accused of having committed or ordered the commission of war crimes. There must be no ‘safe haven’ for individuals alleged to have committed war crimes & crimes against humanity.
“The US has been consistently provided with evidence that US-origin weapons contributed to war crimes, and the US continues to violate the obligation to prevent genocide knowing that its weapons are used as part of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.”
Amnesty International noted, “Complying with ICC arrest warrants & pursuing accountability in domestic courts is crucial to bring to justice those responsible for Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the continued dispossession and oppression of Palestinians under Israel’s unlawful occupation and system of apartheid.”
