US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he’s open to working with Congress to slap sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials. Why? It’s in response to the ICC prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants for Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over the Gaza war – a move Blinken reckons is “profoundly wrong-headed.” That’s notable because it points to the strength of the Biden Administration’s rejection of the move… Meanwhile, Ireland, Spain and Norway have announced they’ll formally recognise a Palestinian state from 28 May – a move Israel’s not thrilled about. They’re the first European Union members to make the move, saying it’s essential for lasting peace in the region. And in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis is deepening, with the UN stopping food distribution in Rafah due to a lack of supplies and a worsening security situation.