Sen: Graham: ICC Arrest Warrants 'Outrageous'

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Monday sharply criticized the International Criminal Court's prosecution team for seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it "a slap in the face" to the country's independent judiciary.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan on Monday sought warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh.

Khan told CNN that Netanyahu and Gallant face charges relating to "causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war, including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict."

Khan added: "The fact that Hamas fighters need water doesn't justify denying water from all the civilian population of Gaza."

Graham, in a statement on social media, called the decision to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant "outrageous" and "truly a slap in the face to the independent judiciary of Israel, which is renowned for their independence."

Graham added: "We must not forget as a nation the International Criminal Court threatened to bring action against American forces in Afghanistanm and we are a nonmember." 

Graham also claimed that Khan "lied" to U.S. legislators, noting that he "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. ... Instead of the ICC following through with scheduled consultations with Israel, they announced the warrants."

Graham vowed to "feverishly work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle in both chambers to levy damning sanctions against the ICC."

• ICC Warrants for Israeli Officials a 'Sham,' Say Members of Congress
• ICC Seeks Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant