The Australian government has refrained from taking a stance on the ICC’s proposed arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, unlike the United States and the UK. While ICC prosecutor Karim Khan’s announcement of charges against Israeli and Hamas leaders for war crimes and human rights violations drew criticism from President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Australia chose to remain neutral on the matter.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declined to comment on Netanyahu’s arrest warrants, focusing instead on condemning Hamas’s terrorist activities and advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) emphasized that Australia does not see an equivalence between Israel and Hamas, recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization. DFAT also reiterated Australia’s condemnation of Hamas’s actions and support for countries defending themselves against terrorist attacks.
Treasury Jim Chalmers reiterated that Australia is not involved in decisions regarding ICC arrest warrants and emphasized the need to end violence against innocent civilians in Gaza. Opposition leader Simon Birmingham echoed the government’s stance on rejecting the equivalence between Hamas and Israel but criticized the premature nature of the ICC prosecutor’s actions.
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison criticized the ICC for equating a terrorist organization with a nation defending itself, stating that the ICC had compromised its legitimacy. Overall, Australia’s position remains one of neutrality in the face of the ICC’s proposed arrest warrants. Please rewrite this sentence.
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