Harris reaffirms US opposition to ICC probe of Israeli war crimes in OPT

In a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, US Vice President Kamala Harris, reaffirmed US opposition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) probe of Israeli war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Harris and Netanyahu noted the “opposition to the International Criminal Court’s attempts to exercise its jurisdiction over Israeli personnel,” the White House said in a statement.
The United States has firmly opposed the ICC’s decision saying it’s “deeply disappointed by this decision” and that the “ICC has no jurisdiction over this matter.”
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Fatou Bensouda said on Wednesday that she launched a formal probe into war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories.
“The investigation will cover crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court that are alleged to have been committed in the Situation since 13 June 2014, the date to which reference is made in the Referral of the Situation to my Office,” she added.
During the call, Harris and Netanyahu also agreed to continue to cooperate on regional security issues, specifically Iran’s nuclear programme and “dangerous” behaviour.
Harris “emphasized the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security,” the statement said.
The Israeli prime minister opposed the nuclear deal and applauded former US President Donald Trump’s decision to reject it in 2018.
Harris also congratulated Netanyahu on Israel’s COVID-19 vaccine programme and they agreed to increase cooperation on the coronavirus, water, green energy and other initiatives, the White House added.