The Moral Vacuum at the ICC

International law provides broad protections against sexual violence, yet enforcement remains woefully inadequate, as starkly demonstrated by recent tormenting videos of five young teenage girls—Liri Elbag, Naama Levy, Agam Berger, Daniela Gilboa, and Karina Ariev. The videos that emerged are a stark reminder of the real human cost of political gamesmanship. The girls in those videos are not just victims of abuse; they are pawns in a larger strategy to undermine Israel’s right to exist.

These excruciating videos highlight the severe gap between the supposed aspirational goals of international legal frameworks, such as the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute, and the harsh realities faced by victims. The plight of these innocent girls underscores the failure of international law to both prevent and protect against such atrocities, proving the ineffectiveness of existing protections. Although international law provides broad protections against sexual violence, enforcement remains a farce, particularly evident in the ongoing conflict involving hostages.

In the wake of the sexual violence on October 7th and thereafter, one would expect an outcry from every corner of the political spectrum. Instead, a chilling silence persists, with to many refusing to condemn this raw brutality. This inaction is not just a failure of moral leadership; it is an endorsement of terror through omission. The videos depicting the horrific realities faced by innocent girls caught in the crossfire of a conflict driven by a deep-seated hatred for the very existence of Jewish people. In their eyes you can see the epitome of fear, as they are subjected to unimaginable abuse. Yet, the International Criminal Court (ICC) continues its relentless pursuit of issuing arrest warrants against Israeli officials. This is not just a misguided interpretation of justice; it is a perverse form of pseudo-justice that undermines peace and jeopardizes the safe return of all hostages. Such actions by the ICC embolden terrorists and punish those who are defending their nation.

Even more, by seeking to issue arrest warrants against Israeli officials, the ICC is effectively legitimizing the actions of terrorists while criminalizing those who defend their nation and its people. The ICC is emboldening terrorist organizations and signals to the world they lack the moral clarity to distinguish between aggressors and defenders.The ICC by way of failing to condemn these acts of terror, are aligning themselves with a narrative that excuses violence and vilifies self-defense. It is a betrayal of the principles of justice and humanity. It is absurd for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to equate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Hamas, a recognized terrorist organization. Netanyahu is the democratically elected leader of Israel, a nation governed by the principles of democracy. The contrast between how hostages are treated by Hamas and how prisoners of war are treated by Israel is stark. Our hostages are seen with bloody faces, having been raped, starved, and clearly abused in numerous ways, for which we have ample evidence. Conversely, prisoners of war held by Israel are shaved, clean, well-fed, and treated with dignity that quite frankly they do not deserve. To compare the two is not only unjust but also delegitimizes the true nature of terrorist acts, making the ICC’s actions clear it is a terrorist sympathizer kangaroo court.

It is high time for the world to recognize the grotesque double standard at play here. The ICC’s actions embolden terrorists while punishing those who stand against them. Such moral blindness not only undermines the principles of justice but also endangers the lives of the innocent. We must demand accountability and stand unequivocally with those who defend freedom and human dignity against the forces of barbarism. Anything less is not just a failure of leadership; it is a betrayal of our most fundamental values.