Why it matters:
The International Criminal Court is issuing a ruling against the U.S. officials following its earlier accusations of genocide against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli War Minister Yoav Gallant.
The big picture:
DAWN’s submission, prepared with support from ICC-registered lawyers and war crimes experts, argues that these officials provided extensive military, political, and public backing—amounting to over $17.9 billion in weapons transfers—to enable Israeli genocide in Gaza.
What they’re saying:
Reed Brody, DAWN board member and veteran war crimes lawyer, insists there are solid grounds to investigate these U.S. officials for complicity in the Israeli regime’s war crimes. Sarah Leah Whitson, DAWN’s Executive Director, asserts that their actions—such as blocking ceasefire resolutions and authorizing arms transfers despite knowing the consequences—demonstrate clear intent to aid and abet violations of international law.
Key points:
- DAWN’s communication cites violations of Articles 25(3)(c) and (d) of the Rome Statute for aiding and abetting crimes and intentionally contributing to crimes against humanity.
- The submission details over $17.9 billion in U.S.-supplied weapons, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic backing that facilitated Israeli actions in Gaza.
- U.S. officials vetoed multiple UN Security Council ceasefire resolutions, ensuring continued Israeli genocide in Gaza.
Go deeper:
DAWN’s 172-page submission not only presents detailed evidence of how Biden, Blinken, and Austin met both the material (actus reus) and mental (mens rea) elements required for criminal liability under international law, but it also exposes a broader pattern of U.S. involvement in facilitating war crimes.
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