Biden, Blinken, Austin Referred to ICC
Over ‘Intentionally Aiding’ Gaza Genocide
The Cradle
(February 26, 2025) — The US-based human rights NGO Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) has formally requested that the International Criminal Court (ICC) launch a probe into former US president Joe Biden and several of his officials for aiding and abetting Israel’s war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
DAWN submitted a 172-page request that argues that Biden, former defense secretary Llyod Austin, and former secretary of state Anthony Blinken ignored and facilitated Israeli crimes against Palestinians during the war on Gaza – which killed over 60,000 people, a majority of them women and children.
“This case might face political pushback, but that doesn’t change the message it sends: impunity isn’t a given. If the rule of law is supposed to mean anything, it has to apply across the board – not just to our enemies, but to our friends, and yes, to ourselves,” prosecutor and DAWN board member Reed Brody told the Zeteo media outlet.
“We’re at a turning point. The question is whether the ICC and international law will be … more casualties buried under the rubble of Gaza,” he added.
The filing falls under what is known as an Article 15 communication and highlights how Biden’s government continued to provide military and diplomatic support to Tel Aviv despite its knowledge that the aid was being used to commit war crimes.
This US support includes at least $17.9 billion in military, intelligence, and targeting assistance.
“By continuously and unconditionally providing Political Support and Military Support to Israel while being fully aware of the specific crimes committed by Netanyahu, Gallant, and their subordinates, president Biden, secretary Blinken, and secretary Austin contributed intentionally to the commission of those crimes while at least knowing the intention of the group to commit the Israeli Crimes, if not aiming of furthering such criminal activity,” DAWN’s filing at the ICC reads.
The ICC has international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in member states or if the UN Security Council refers a situation. Neither the US nor Israel recognize the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court.
US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions against the ICC, which include “the blocking of property and assets, as well as the suspension of entry into the United States of ICC officials, employees, and agents, as well as their immediate family members,” according to the president’s executive order signed in early February.
Included in the list of targets of the US sanctions is ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan.
The ICC had issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 over the genocide in Gaza, prompting immediate threats from Washington.
