As the Israel-Hamas war crosses the seven-month mark, negotiations are apparently stalled to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, and Israeli forces continue to launch incursions in the southern Gazan town of Rafah ahead of a possible large-scale invasion.
Congress considering sanctioning ICC: House speaker
Congress is considering sanctioning the International Criminal Court regarding the arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“In the absence of leadership from the White House, Congress is reviewing all options, including sanctions, to punish the ICC and ensure its leadership faces consequences if they proceed," Johnson said in a statement. "If the ICC is allowed to threaten Israeli leaders, ours could be next."
The ICC has "no authority" over Israel or the U.S., Johnson noted.
-ABC News' Lauren Peller
May 20, 2024, 1:33 PM EDT
Biden calls ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu outrageous
President Joe Biden called the application for arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders "outrageous."
"And let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence -- none -- between Israel and Hamas," Biden said.
"We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security," Biden's statement said.
The U.S. and Israel are not parties in the ICC.
May 20, 2024, 7:22 AM EDT
ICC to seek arrest warrants for Israeli, Hamas leaders
A prosecutor with the International Criminal Court on Monday said he would file applications for arrest warrants for Hamas and Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for "criminal responsibility" for "war crimes and crimes against humanity" in Gaza.
Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan said he would seek warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a speech during a ceremony on the eve of the Memorial Day in Jerusalem on May 12, 2024.
Debbie Hill/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Khan laid out a list of allegations against Netanyahu and Gallant, including starvation of civilians, willfully causing great suffering and other "inhumane acts."
"We submit that the crimes against humanity charged were committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the Palestinian civilian population pursuant to State policy," Khan said in a statement. "These crimes, in our assessment, continue to this day."
Khan also said he would seek warrants for Hamas leadership, including Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri and Ismail Haniyeh.
The prosecutor alleges those officials are also responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Khan alleges that the Hamas leaders are responsible for crimes including murder, hostage taking, torture and sexual violence, including rape.
-ABC News' Joe Simonetti and Kevin Shalvey
May 19, 2024, 5:05 PM EDT
IDF releases footage of young Israeli hostages it says were forced to film Hamas video under duress
Israel Defense Forces released Sunday raw video footage it says its troops recovered in Gaza that shows former Israeli hostages 8-year-old Ela Elyakim and her 15-year-old sister Dafna Elyakim being forced by Hamas terrorists to film repeatedly.
Israel Defense Forces released a video on May 19, 2024, showing former Israel hostages, 8-year-old Ela Elyakim and her 15-year-old sister, Dafna Elyakim, being forced by Hamas terrorists to film over and over.
IDF Handout/Hamas Video
"The video, which is being released today for the first time was intended to be used by Hamas for psychological terror," Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesperson, said in a statement. "But Ela’s family asked us to share it with the world to expose Hamas's terror, to expose Hamas's cruelty, to expose Hamas's barbarism."
Hagari said the raw footage of the girls recording the video was recovered by IDF troops during Israel's ground operations in Gaza.
The Elyakim sisters were kidnapped on Oct. 7 from their father's house in Nahal Oz, according to the IDF. Their father was killed in the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists, according to the IDF.
Ela and Dafana Elyakim were held hostage for 51 days before Hamas released them in a previous hostage deal, the IDF said.
Ela Elyakim told IDF officials that Hamas terrorists forced her to read from a script and made her change clothes multiple times as they refilmed the video over and over, according to Hagari.
"We will continue doing everything in our power to bring our hostages back home," said Hagari.
