BEIJING, Nov 22, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - China urged the International Criminal
Court on Friday to remain objective and fair after it issued an arrest
warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"China hopes the ICC will uphold an objective and just position (and)
exercise its powers in accordance with the law," foreign ministry spokesman
Lin Jian said at a regular press conference in response to a question about
the court's warrant for Netanyahu.

The ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav
Gallant on Thursday "for crimes against humanity and war crimes" committed
between October 8, 2023, and May 20 this year.

It said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe the pair bore "criminal
responsibility" for using starvation as a method of warfare and intentionally
attacking civilians.

Netanyahu denounced the move as anti-Semitic and the court's accusations as
"absurd and false".

China, which like Israel and the United States is not a member of the ICC,
said it "supports any efforts by the international community on the
Palestinian issue that are conducive to achieving fairness and justice and
upholding the authority of international law".

Lin also accused the United States of "double standards" in response to a
question about the US opposition to the court's pursuit of Netanyahu, but its
support for a warrant against Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

"China consistently opposes certain countries only use international law when
it suits them... and engaging in double standards," Lin said.

US President Joe Biden has condemned the warrants against Israeli leaders,
calling them "outrageous".