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INTERNACIONAL

US allies France, Belgium defend ICC prosecutor’s request for Israeli arrest warrants

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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’

Benjamin Netanyahu

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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Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff

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.


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INTERNACIONAL

95 Libyan nationals arrested in South Africa at suspected secret military training camp

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South African police arrested 95 Libyan nationals in a raid on a suspected secret military training camp on Friday and authorities said they were investigating whether there were more illegal bases in other parts of the country.

The camp was discovered at a farm in White River in the Mpumalanga province, about 360 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of Johannesburg, police said.

ELEPHANTS KILL TOURIST IN SOUTH AFRICA AFTER HE TRIED TO GET CLOSE TO TAKE PICTURES

National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said in a post on the social media site X that the Libyans stated they had entered the country on study visas to train as security guards, but police investigations suggest they have received military training.

The Newzroom Afrika TV news channel broadcast pictures of the site of the arrests, showing a military-style camp with large green and khaki tents set up in a row. Dozens of men were seen lining up as they were arrested. They were wearing civilian clothing.

Local government official Jackie Macie said investigations were ongoing and the owner of the farm would be questioned. He said authorities received information that there were similar secret camps near two other towns in Mpumalanga province.

A camp where 95 Libyan nationals were arrested on suspicion of running an illegal military camp are seen lining up after their arrest on Friday, July 26, 2024 in White River, South Africa. Police say that 95 Libyan nationals were arrested on suspicion of receiving training at a secret military camp in the north of the country. (AP Photo/Bulelwa Maphanga)

The province borders neighboring countries Mozambique and Swaziland and is an area of concern for South African authorities with regards to illegal immigration.

Police and authorities have not said whether the camps are suspected of being connected to a particular group or conflict.

Macie said investigations would establish if there was a network of camps in South Africa and show «why they are here doing military training in our country.»

Police said the men may be linked to crimes reported in communities close to the farm in recent months.

«We have serious cases which have been opened with the police, including cases of rape and armed robberies, which complainants claim were committed by unknown foreigners who seem to be of Asian descent,» said police spokesman Donald Mdhluli.

«We take what we have found here today very seriously because we don’t know who was training them, what were they being trained for and why that training is happening here in South Africa. It may be a threat not only to South Africa but also to the entire southern Africa region.»

Police said the operation to arrest the Libyans and close down the camp began two days ago. Macie said the Libyan nationals had been in the country since at least April.

«The 95 individuals taken into custody are all Libyan nationals and are currently being questioned by the relevant authorities,» Mpumalanga acting provincial police commissioner Maj. Gen. Zeph Mkhwanazi said in a statement.

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Mdhluli, the police spokesman, said the country’s security regulator had confirmed that the kind of training that appears to have been taking place at the camp was well beyond the scope of training for security guards.

«The kind of equipment we found here shows that there was intense military training taking place here. This was basically a military base.»


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