Amnesty International has urged US authorities to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and transfer him to the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he is wanted under an arrest warrant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Amnesty International’s US office said on Tuesday that Washington should uphold human rights and the rule of law and act on the ICC warrant while Netanyahu was visiting the US capital.
Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump in Washington, with Trump describing the meeting as a “great honour” and saying it had gone “very well.” Trump had previously said Netanyahu would not be arrested during his visit to the United States.
The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and then-Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel has rejected the allegations and challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
The United States and Israel are not parties to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. ICC member states, however, are required to cooperate with the court, including in enforcing arrest warrants when individuals subject to active warrants enter their territory.
The ICC warrant against Netanyahu remains in force. The warrant was sought in 2024 by then-ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan and subsequently approved by the court’s judges.
Netanyahu’s arrest warrant has remained a major point of international legal and political controversy. Israel rejects the ICC’s jurisdiction, while Amnesty International and other human rights organisations have continued to call for accountability over alleged violations committed during the Gaza war.
The US decision not to arrest Netanyahu during his visit reflects Washington’s longstanding opposition to the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israeli officials. The visit also highlights the gap between the position of the US and Israel and that of countries that recognise the court’s authority and support its efforts to investigate alleged international crimes.
