INTERNACIONAL
US allies France, Belgium defend ICC prosecutor’s request for Israeli arrest warrants
France, Belgium and other European allies are expressing support for the International Criminal Court amid ongoing demands from the U.S. to drop accusations of war crimes against Israel.
Protestations from the U.S. and Israel began after ICC prosecutor Karim Khan filed applications for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leaders for alleged «war crimes.«
«France supports the International Criminal Court, its independence and the fight against impunity in all situations,» the nation’s foreign ministry said Monday.
Slovenia also spoke out in support of the ICC, saying «accountability is crucial» in addressing the Israel-Hamas conflict.
AMAL CLOONEY PLAYED KEY ROLE IN ICC ARREST WARRANTS FOR NETANYAHU, HAMAS LEADERS
Karim Khan announced Monday his intentions to pursue charges against both the Israeli government and Hamas leaders. (Getty Images)
«War crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Israel and Palestine from at least Oct.7 2023 must be prosecuted independently and impartially regardless of the perpetrators,» the foreign ministry of Slovenia said in a statement posted Monday to social media. «Accountability is crucial to prevent atrocities and to guarantee peace.»
«Belgium supports the work of the International Criminal Court,» Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Labib said in a statement posted to social media. «The request submitted by the Court’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, for arrest warrants against both Hamas and Israeli officials is an important step in the investigation of the situation in Palestine.
Germany expressed hesitation at the accusations placed against Israeli leadership, saying, «The simultaneous application for arrest warrants against the Hamas leaders on the one hand and the two Israeli officials on the other has given the false impression of equivalence.»
Khan said his office had collected evidence to give «reasonable grounds» to believe Netanyahu and Gallant «bear criminal responsibility for… war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the State of Palestine.»
EX-ISRAELI PM CALLS FOR DEFUNDING ICC AFTER COURT REQUESTS ARREST WARRANT FOR NETANYAHU OVER ‘WAR CRIMES’
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks out against the ICC’s announcement to pursue an arrest warrant against him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. (Government Press Office)
Khan said those alleged crimes include «starvation of civilians as a method of warfare» and «intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population.»
He said he is also seeking arrest warrants for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, its top political leader Ismail Haniyeh, and its military commander Mohammed Deif.
The Israeli government has rebuked the ICC’s handling of the situation.
«I reject with disgust the Hague prosecutor’s comparison between democratic Israel and the mass murderers of Hamas,» Netanyahu said.
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President Biden speaks as Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff listen during a Jewish American Heritage Month event on Monday in the Rose Garden of the White House. (AP)
«It is directed against the IDF soldiers, who are fighting with extraordinary heroism against the vile Hamas murderers who attacked us with terrible cruelty on Oct. 7,» Netanyahu said in an English-language statement.
Biden publicly backed Israel after the ICC’s announcement, saying the U.S. «[rejects] the ICC’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.»
«Whatever these warrants may imply, there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas,» Biden said. «And it’s clear Israel wants to do all it can to ensure civilian protection.»
Fox News’ Bradford Betz and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
Was a beloved whale suspected of being a Russian ‘spy’ killed in Norway?
Havldimir quickly became a celebrity in Norway, swimming his way into their Nordic hearts.
But this beluga whale’s odd story started in 2019 when he was discovered in northern Norway near the island of Ingoya wearing a harness with «Equipment St Petersburg» written in English connected to a mount for a small camera.
Hvaldimir, as Norwegians dubbed him – mixing together the Norwegian word for whale and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name – was intelligent, friendly and responded to hand signals, leading Norway’s spy agency to believe he had been held in captivity by Russia and used for research purposes.
Once Hvaldimir was freed from his harness, though, his friendly personality made him beloved in the country.
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED WHALE SEEN OFF CALIFORNIA COAST: ‘EVERY SIGHTING IS INCREDIBLE VALUABLE TO US’
Hvaldimir was found in 2019 wearing a harness with a camera mount on it. (Jorgen Ree Wiig/Sea Surveillance Service/Handout/NTB Scanpix via Reuters/File Photo)
He was fed and monitored by the Norwegian government and dubbed a «free-swimming whale» by the Norwegian Orca Survey, venturing as far as Sweden but always returning home, according to The Telegraph.
Hvaldimir was found dead off southern Norway last weekend.
«It’s absolutely horrible,» marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who worked with Marine Mind, told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. «He was apparently in good condition as of (Friday), so we just have to figure out what might have happened here.»
BREACHING WHALE CAPSIZES BOAT AFTER LANDING ON TOP OF IT OFF NEW HAMPSHIRE, SHOCKING VIDEO SHOWS
Hvaldimir, being fed here, became beloved in Norway. (orgen Ree Wiig, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries via AP)
Hvaldimir may have died of natural causes, but conservation groups NOAH and One Whale have filed police reports claiming he was shot, according to the Telegraph.
The Oceanic Preservation Society said that a necropsy will be done on Hvaldimir to determine his cause of death in the next few weeks.
«We’ve been absolutely devastated over the news, and are deeply saddened that humanity failed this beloved whale,» the organization said on social media.
He was fed and monitored by the Norwegian government and dubbed a «free-swimming whale» by the Norwegian Orca Survey, venturing as far as Sweden but always returning home. (Jorgen Ree Wiig, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries via AP)
Nonprofit Marine Mind said on Facebook that Hvaldimir «bridged the gap» between humans and wild animals in a way «few can.»
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«Hvaldimir was not just a beluga whale; he was a beacon of hope, a symbol of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between humans and the natural world,» the organization said. «Over the past five years, he touched the lives of tens of thousands, bringing people together in awe of the wonders of nature. His presence taught us about the importance of ocean conservation, and in doing so, he also taught us more about ourselves.»
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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