William Cohen, the former Defense Secretary, commented that the International Criminal Court’s indictment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister places them in a problematic group. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, and a Hamas official on Thursday, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their actions in Gaza. Netanyahu has strongly rejected the allegations.
Now, Netanyahu finds himself alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also faces ICC charges. Putin, along with high-ranking Russian military officials, is accused of multiple war crimes related to the invasion of Ukraine. The warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant accuse them of employing “starvation as a method of warfare” and intentionally attacking civilians. They are also alleged to have deliberately targeted medical facilities and obstructed humanitarian aid into Gaza.
As Netanyahu rejects ICC allegations, the world watches the implications for his leadership and Israel’s future
Cohen discussed the ICC’s limited jurisdiction over Israel and suggested Netanyahu is unlikely to face immediate consequences. “He’s going to be more isolated in Israel,” Cohen told NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”
The former Defense Secretary also shared his thoughts on the role of Secretary of Defense, particularly in relation to Pete Hegseth’s potential confirmation. Cohen called it the “most exciting and exhausting job” after the presidency, noting his own experience of managing on very little sleep but fueled by adrenaline and the responsibilities of the job.
Cohen also offered advice to Hegseth, emphasizing that success in the role depends on having a strong team. “No one person goes into that office and says, ‘I have control of the entire organization.’ You need a great team,” Cohen explained. “You can’t just accept mediocrity.” He stressed the importance of having experts who understand defense, Capitol Hill, and international affairs.
