ISTANBUL

Dubbed "Genocidal Joe" for his support of Israeli genocide in Gaza, Joe Biden, the 46th president of the US, is remembered for backing human rights violations during his tenure.

Despite pledging to make human rights a cornerstone of his foreign policy, Biden's policies have remained controversial throughout his presidency.

During his presidency, he obstructed human rights activities of international organizations such as the UN, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).

Biden's administration faced heavy criticism from human rights advocates for supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of over 47,000 Palestinians.

Fundamental laws violated by Biden during his presidency

While Biden supported the decisions of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the ICJ in cases against Russia and provided assistance to these courts, he did not adopt the same stance toward Israel, labeling the genocide as “unverified information.”

Despite pledging to preserve American values on his first day in office, Biden openly violated international norms and laws, as well as US laws, during his term.

The Biden administration sent anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, violating a global ban, and continued to provide weapons and financial aid to Israel despite allegations of genocide and violations of the laws of war in Gaza.

Despite weeks of protests by Americans condemning Washington’s pro-Israel stance, the former US president resisted public pressure and continued arms shipments and financial aid to Israel.

This violated Section 502B of the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act, which prohibits aid to any country that restricts or prevents US humanitarian assistance.

The law states: "No assistance shall be provided to any country that obstructs or restricts the transportation or delivery of US humanitarian aid once the President is notified of such activities."

Nevertheless, Biden continued aiding Israel, a country known to obstruct humanitarian aid and even admitting to it.

Disregard for Hague Conventions, 1997 Ottawa Convention, UN

The Hague Conventions prohibit American assistance to any security force involved in human rights violations.

Codified under "10 US Code 362," the law prevents the Defense Department from providing training, equipment, or aid to such units if the president has credible information about their actions.

Despite this, Biden continued supporting the Israeli military.

In addition, the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines, was signed on Dec. 4, 1997, and entered into force in 1999.

Although the US is not a party to this treaty, the Biden administration prohibited the use of anti-personnel mines outside the Korean Peninsula in 2022.

However, in November 2024, Biden sent anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, violating this global ban recognized by 164 countries for their indiscriminate harm to civilians and soldiers.

The Biden administration vetoed 51 UN Security Council resolutions, including those calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Following Oct. 7, 2023, the UNRWA, which has supported Palestinian refugees since 1950, became a repeated target of Israeli attacks.

Despite Israel’s ban on the group’s operations on Oct. 28, 2024, Washington remained silent.

By vetoing six Security Council resolutions advocating a ceasefire in Gaza, Biden facilitated Israel’s actions in the region.

‘Abandon Biden’ movement

The former US president further faced backlash from voters and activists who sought to hold him accountable for his human rights record.

The "Abandon Biden" movement emerged, urging him to withdraw from the presidential race.

The movement, organized across several US states like Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Wisconsin, expressed opposition through protests and voting campaigns.

In an interview with Anadolu, Hassan Abdel Salam, the founder of the movement, said: "Our strategy is to hold the president or vice president accountable for their actions. We started with a ceasefire demand, giving Biden until Oct. 31 to respond.

US policy supports genocide, occupation, and the bombardment of an innocent population on the brink of collapse."

Biden's administration was also accused of sponsoring Israel’s genocide in Gaza, providing over $22 billion in aid to the Israeli military after Oct. 7, 2023.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the American administration supplied 69% of Israel’s weaponry, a figure that rose to 78% during the Gaza genocide.

In 2024 alone, the US struck 100 arms deals with Israel, channeling military aid funds back into the arms industry.

Crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists, applause for Netanyahu

Protests that began at Columbia University and spread to over 50 universities nationwide were met with heavy-handed responses by US police.

Over 3,100 students and faculty members were arrested during demonstrations against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Additionally, the Biden administration hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Congress, where his speech received 56 standing ovations.

This bipartisan show of support highlighted the alignment of both Democrats and Republicans on US-Israel policies.

Biden also refrained from granting clemency to figures like Biologist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and American scholar Marcellus Williams, who were the focus of protests by American Muslims.

However, in the final minutes of his presidency, Biden pardoned family members, including James B. Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens, and Francis W. Biden.

On Dec. 2, 2024, Biden also pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of tax evasion and illegal firearm possession.

Gaza ceasefire

The ceasefire agreement suspended Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 47,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 110,700 since Oct. 7, 2023.

The three-phase agreement includes a prisoner exchange and sustained calm, aiming for a permanent truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The Israeli onslaught has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

*Writing by Merve Berker