It is abundantly clear that Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, and Lloyd Austin have enacted detestable measures against the Palestinian people. Their knowing contribution of military assistance and diplomatic backing to Israel has resulted in the dire straits of civilians and countless casualties. In particular, the memory of the tragic case of a 9-year-old Palestinian, Mahmoud Ajjour, whose life was irrevocably altered by an Israeli attack remains deeply rooted in our consciousness.
Mahmoud Ajjour is unfortunately only one among thousands of child amputees in Gaza, marking it as the region with the highest concentration of such distressing predicaments. Our organization is dedicated to reforming US foreign policy in the Middle East, and it has put forward a legal brief pressurizing the International Criminal Court (ICC) to scrutinize the actions of former officials Biden, Blinken, and Austin. This step is vital as their actions may have inadvertently abetted war crimes, crimes against humanity, as well as the starvation and genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
To put this into perspective, we should consider that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his previous defense minister, Yoav Gallant, have already been indicted by the court for similar alleged atrocities. It is on account of the compelling data against Biden, Blinken, and Austin, as well as the appalling damage inflicted upon the Palestinians that our organization took a united stand to demand accountability for their actions.
The Rome Statute, which is the guiding principle for the ICC, clearly defines support for a crime as a crime itself. The trio, Biden, Blinkin, and Austin, supplied Israel with essential aid knowing its potential use in facilitating deplorable acts against civilians, widespread slaughters, and the calculated deprivation of survival necessities for the people of Gaza.
The military assistance approved by these officials was crucial for Israel’s ability to conduct its horrifying operations. Israeli officials admitted that they heavily relied on US backing for carrying out military missions in an exposé in October 2023 while also noting the utility of intelligence data provided by the US and Britain.
Despite its own advisers’ recommendations against the provision of such assistance, given its illegality under American law, the Biden administration continued to dispense aid to Israel. Such decisions not only flout the rules but also contribute to the suffering of the innocent.
Moreover, it’s worth noting the essential role of the political favor Biden offered Israel. Proposing an ICC investigation of American officials is a politically volatile course of action. A call for prosecuting these officials could incite a retaliatory response from Congress against the court.
The ICC is under immense pressure, with its legitimacy hanging in the balance. If due to overt political interference it absolves those accountable for the heinous crimes in Gaza, it will squander its remaining credibility.
Continuing to exact justice for the genocide in Gaza—targeting not only Israeli officials but also those from the US—will likely trigger indignant demands from the latter for its allies to withdraw their ICC memberships. Bravely resisting these assaults is crucial for the protection of not only the ICC but also the integrity of international law-enforcing organizations.
Succumbing to intimidation only sets the stage for adversaries to dismantle the International Court of Justice and similar international institutions. Hence, it’s crucial for the ICC to steadfastly uphold justice and refuse any form of manipulation.
In the face of such gross misjustice, where else can Ajjour and other victims like him of this brutal system turn to for justice if not the ICC? Ensuring those responsible for his pain face their rightful guilt, and challenging the culture of impunity that has resulted in Israeli and US officials flagrantly treating every individual in Gaza as a terrorist deserving of death is the ultimate need of the hour.
Political machinations that are solely driven by the desire to exclude Ajjour and other disenfranchised Palestinians from obtaining justice are a futile exercise. This is because the pursuit of justice doesn’t hold water unless it is perceived to be fair and unbiased, benefitting all without exceptions.
Thus, a solid case can be made against Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, and Lloyd Austin’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Their direct support of Israel, despite its actions towards the Palestinian people, belies the fundamental principles of justice.
Moreover, their dismissal of their own advisers’ counsel, their indifference to the rules, and their implication in the suffering of innocents are a blatant affront to their declared commitment to uphold peace, justice, and human rights.
While champions of Biden and his allies may label this criticism unwarranted and in bad faith, anyone who pays close attention to the facts can discern that these leaders, through their actions, have aided and abetted deplorable conditions in Gaza, laid the groundwork for countless tragedies, and laid bare their flawed sense of humanity.