Amid Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, Amnesty International has called on U.S. authorities to arrest him and surrender him to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution, in accordance with the court’s arrest warrant. The organization urged the U.S. government to respect human rights and the rule of law.
On Tuesday, July 28, Amnesty International USA said in a post on the social media platform X that U.S. officials should uphold their commitments to human rights and the rule of law and enforce the arrest warrant issued against Benjamin Netanyahu.
The call comes as Netanyahu, during his visit to the United States, met with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump described the meeting as a “great honor” and “very good,” and had previously stated that Netanyahu would not be arrested while in the United States.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on November 21, 2024, for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former defense minister, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The Israeli government has rejected the allegations and challenged the ICC’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
The United States and Israel are not parties to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court. However, ICC arrest warrants are binding on member states, which are required to take steps to arrest individuals wanted by the court if they enter their territory.
Karim Khan, the former ICC prosecutor, submitted a request to the court’s judges on May 20, 2024, seeking an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu. ICC member states later voted on July 24, 2026, by a majority of 82 votes to remove Khan from his position as prosecutor over what they described as “serious misconduct and serious breaches of duty.”
However, Karim Khan’s removal does not affect the validity of the arrest warrant issued for Benjamin Netanyahu. Under ICC regulations, only the court’s judges have the authority to revoke or amend arrest warrants, and the warrant remains valid and in effect.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
