ICC Urged to Investigate Biden for Alleged Complicity in Gaza War Crimes
A US-based nonprofit organization has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate former President Joe Biden and two of his top officials for allegedly aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn) submitted the request to the ICC last month, but the organization publicly announced it on Monday. The group is urging the court to probe Biden, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for their alleged roles in supporting Israeli actions in Gaza.
Last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, who was recently confirmed dead, for alleged war crimes committed during the conflict.
Dawn’s 172-page submission, prepared with assistance from ICC-registered lawyers and war crimes experts, accuses the former US officials of violating the Rome Statute by providing extensive support to Israel. The document details what it describes as a “pattern of deliberate and purposeful decisions” by these officials to aid Israeli military actions, including approving at least $17.9 billion in weapons transfers, intelligence sharing, targeting assistance, and diplomatic backing, despite knowledge of potential war crimes.
A passage from the submission states that “by continuously and unconditionally providing political and military support to Israel while being fully aware of the specific crimes committed by Netanyahu, Gallant, and their subordinates, President Biden, Secretary Blinken, and Secretary Austin contributed intentionally to the commission of those crimes.” It further alleges that the US officials acted with at least knowledge, if not intent, to facilitate these actions.
Sarah Leah Whitson, Dawn’s executive director, criticized Biden and his officials for ignoring evidence of Israeli violations and bypassing staff recommendations to halt arms transfers. She stated, “Not only did Biden, Blinken, and Austin ignore and justify overwhelming evidence of Israel’s deliberate crimes, they doubled down by ensuring Israel had unconditional military and political support to continue its atrocities.”
Dawn also pointed to the US government’s repeated use of its UN Security Council veto to block ceasefire resolutions as further evidence of its political support for Israel.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order authorizing economic sanctions against the ICC, denouncing its investigations into US and Israeli actions as “illegitimate and baseless.” Dawn warned that Trump’s move could expose him to individual criminal liability for obstructing justice. Additionally, the group noted that Trump’s proposed plan to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza and seize the territory could constitute war crimes and crimes of aggression under international law.
Raed Jarrar, Dawn’s advocacy director, emphasized the gravity of these actions, stating that they warrant ICC scrutiny, “not just for aiding and abetting Israeli crimes but for ordering forcible transfer, a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute.”
The ICC has yet to respond to Dawn’s submission, but the request signals increasing pressure on the court to examine US involvement in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
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