In a move to prevent the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the United States is reportedly taking action to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Concerns surrounding the attack on Gaza have left Netanyahu "frightened and unusually stressed," according to Israeli media outlets.

Israeli news site Walla reported that Netanyahu has been actively engaged in a continuous effort, particularly through phone conversations with the White House, to prevent the ICC from issuing an arrest warrant against him. The Israeli newspaper Maariv stated that sources close to the prime minister anticipate such warrants may be issued in the near future. There are also speculations that Defence Minister Yoav Galant and Chief of Staff Major-General Herzi Halevi might face similar warrants.

Netanyahu himself took to Twitter on 26 April, asserting that Israel, under his leadership, will never allow the Hague-based Criminal Court to undermine its fundamental right to self-defense. His opposition to the potential arrest warrant aligns with the vehement sentiments expressed by Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who referred to it as "absolute hypocrisy" in an interview with the N12 channel.

Amidst these developments, a classified internal memo from the State Department has come to light. The memo, reviewed by Reuters, reveals a division within the department regarding Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in the Gaza conflict. Senior US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have expressed skepticism over Israel's assurances that it is using US-supplied weapons in accordance with international law. The assessment of the officials deems these assurances as not "credible or reliable."

This memo is part of the process outlined in a National Security Memorandum issued by President Joe Biden in February. The memorandum mandates that Blinken report to Congress by 8 May, providing an assessment of Israel's compliance with US and international law concerning the usage of US weapons. Several State Department bureaus have contributed to the memo, with discussions focused on the potential violation of international humanitarian law by Israel in Gaza.

As tensions rise and the possibility of ICC arrest warrants loom, the US continues to navigate its stance on Israel's representation. These recent developments highlight the complexity of the situation and bring international attention to the question of Israel's compliance with international law in its military actions.

It remains to be seen how the US's efforts to prevent the ICC arrest warrants will unfold and how these developments will impact the ongoing debate surrounding Israel's actions and accountability in the Gaza conflict.