Blinken: Request for Arrest Warrant for Israeli Leaders Makes Ceasefire More Difficult

The U.S. Secretary of State stated that a ceasefire in Gaza is still possible, but the request by the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for an arrest warrant for Israeli leaders undermines efforts to establish a ceasefire. Antony Blinken's remarks were interrupted by protesters at the start of a two-day session of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. According to AFP, two protesters shouted that the U.S. Secretary of State was a 'criminal' for supporting Israeli attacks in Gaza. Police removed them from the session. Reuters also reported that other protesters raised their red-painted hands, shouting that the Secretary of State's hands are 'stained with blood.' On Tuesday, Blinken emphasized the important role of Egypt and Qatar in 'extensive efforts' to ensure a temporary ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages. However, these efforts did not yield results, and William Burns, the CIA director and the main U.S. representative in these negotiations, returned to the U.S. about ten days ago empty-handed. Blinken stated, 'I think we have come very close to a ceasefire agreement at several points. We continue to work on this every day, and I believe there is still a possibility of establishing a ceasefire.' The U.S. Secretary of State then added, 'But I must acknowledge that we are facing several challenges. One of them is the very misguided decision of the ICC prosecutor, who shamefully placed Hamas and Israeli leadership on the same level. In my opinion, this action will only make it harder to reach an agreement.' President Joe Biden also described the ICC prosecutor's decision to equate Israel and Hamas as 'abhorrent.' The Biden administration has not mentioned the possibility of sanctioning the ICC in response to this action. During Donald Trump's presidency, the U.S. government sanctioned the then ICC prosecutor. In response to questions from Senate Foreign Relations Committee members, Blinken repeatedly stated that the Biden administration is considering an 'appropriate response' to the ICC prosecutor's decision. Meanwhile, the governments of France, Belgium, and Slovenia issued a statement on Tuesday supporting the ICC prosecutor's request for arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders. Karim Khan, the ICC prosecutor, on Monday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant, and three senior Hamas leaders, Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif, of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Although Israel is not a member of the ICC and its Prime Minister and Defense Minister are not facing immediate arrest, the prosecutor's request is considered a significant blow to Israel and will exacerbate its international isolation due to the war in Gaza.