United States President Donald Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week, as Washington displays bold defiance and disregard of rulings by UN international courts, including an arrest warrant for Netanyahu issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On November 21, 2024, ICC, mandated to investigate and prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression, issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
In November, 2024, Netanyahu removed Gallant who had served as Defence Minister from 2022-2024, replacing him with ally and hardliner Israel Katz. Katz previously served as Foreign Affairs Minister since 2019.
The warrant of arrest for both was related to charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for using starvation as a method of warfare, and thus a war crime; and for intentionally directing attacks against civilians.
Additional charges include the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts from at least October 8, 2023 until at least May 20, 2024.
During the Bush administration, the U.S. announced that it would not become a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, and is therefore not a member state.
Netanyahu will be the first foreign state leader to meet with Trump for an official state visit which was scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
Attorney and researcher Sõzarn Barday said Trump’s invitation to Netanyahu sends a clear and uncompromising message to the international community, that U.S. strategic alliances will trump international legal pressures.
“Despite the ICC’s pending arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant—warrants based on reasonable and well-founded grounds including the systematic deprivation of Gaza civilians—the U.S. is choosing to stand firmly by Israel… In essence, the invitation signals that U.S. policy will continue to support Israel regardless of international criticisms or legal proceedings, prioritising geopolitical interests over accountability in international courts.”
Barday said the U.S. has routinely dismissed rulings by the ICC and ICJ related to Israel, prioritising its strategic alliance and military support over accountability for crimes against Palestinians.
“By providing billions in aid and offering unwavering diplomatic cover, the U.S. effectively shields Israel from international scrutiny—even as evidence mounts of systematic violations against Palestinian civilians. This policy not only undermines efforts to bring justice for Palestinians but also makes the U.S. complicit in perpetuating these abuses by enabling Israel’s impunity.”
Barday added that Trump’s unwavering support for Israel is deepening global divisions and fuelling instability.
“By continuing to prioritise Israel’s interests over adherence to international law, the U.S. not only undermines multilateral institutions like the ICC and ICJ but also signals that its strategic alliances take precedence over human rights and accountability. This has already sparked growing discontent among many countries, as critics increasingly question U.S. hegemony and call for a more balanced approach to international justice. In short, rather than being an isolated policy stance, Trump’s support for Israel is contributing to a broader global realignment and challenging the notion of unchallenged American dominance.”
Barday said now was the time for the Global South to rise as “true guardians of human rights”.
“The world is controlled by right-wing oppressors who exploit resource-rich nations, seizing gas and vital reserves for their own gain. This unjust world order must be dismantled.”
Just last week, nine nations ( South Africa, Namibia, Senegal, Honduras, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Belize, and Malaysia) formed a league, called The Hague Group, for a coordinated action to end Israeli impunity and violations of international law.
During remarks made before taking off, Netanyahu said: “The fact that this would be President Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration is telling. I think it’s a testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance. It’s also a testimony to the strength of our personal friendship.”
“In this meeting we’ll deal with important issues, critical issues facing Israel and our region: Victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages and dealing with the Iranian terror axis in all its components- an axis that threatens the peace of Israel, the Middle East and the entire world.”
While a temporary ceasefire was achieved in Gaza, Israel launched an “extensive and significant military operation” in Jenin in the West Bank on January 21, referring to this as “Iron Wall”, demonstrating a mere shift in its military operations.
Since having taken office, Trump has shown that U.S. policy and support of Israel would not differ from his predecessor’s, with Biden frequently referring to America’s relationship and support of Israel as “iron-clad”.
On January 21, Trump signed an Executive Order, rescinding sanctions imposed by the Biden administration against violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Biden signed the Executive Order of February 1, 2024 ‘Imposing Certain Sanctions on Persons Undermining Peace, Security, and Stability in the West Bank’, in response to high levels of extremist settler violence, forced displacement of people and villages, and property destruction which he said had reached intolerable levels and constituted a serious threat to peace.
In another Executive Order signed on January 29, Trump introduced “additional measures to combat anti-semiticism”. However, this was largely seen to deliberately target pro-Palestine supporters on college campuses who had protest the genocide and U.S. backing of it in Gaza.