US lawmakers slam ICC prosecutor’s Israel arrest warrant requests

'I insist that all attempts to impede, to intimidate or to improperly influence the officials of this court cease immediately,' International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan says in announcing he is seeking arrest warrants against Israeli and Hamas leaders [File: Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters]

Lawmakers in the United States have slammed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC’s) decision to seek arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials accused of war crimes in Gaza with some Republicans threatening to impose “consequences” against the international tribunal.

Joe Biden was less confrontational in his opposition to Monday’s announcement from ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, but the US president still labelled the move “outrageous”.