WASHINGTON: The US House of Representatives has passed legislation that aims to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to the efforts by its prosecutor to seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.
The Republican-controlled House voted 247-155 in favor of the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act. The bill seeks to impose sanctions, including barring entry to the United States and restricting property transactions, on ICC officials involved in the arrest warrant request.
Despite the largely symbolic nature of the vote, it underscores the unwavering support for Israel among the majority of lawmakers in the US, regardless of party affiliation.
Several procedural hurdles remain before the sanctions can be enforced. While President Joe Biden has expressed “deep concerns” about the arrest warrant bid, he has firmly opposed sanctions against the ICC, stating they go “too far.”
The proposal is unlikely to pass the Senate, which is narrowly controlled by Democrats. Zhou-Castro notes that the Senate Majority Leader’s decision to take up the measure for a vote remains uncertain. The White House’s opposition, with Biden hinting at a potential veto.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan’s recent announcement of reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu, Gallant, and three Hamas leaders bear criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes has sparked controversy. Netanyahu dismissed the decision as absurd, while emphasizing that the move targets Israel as a whole.
Israel and the US, both non-members of the ICC, rely on support from their allies to resist the enforcement of any warrants issued by ICC judges.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the US’s unwavering stance with Israel, denouncing the ICC’s actions as baseless. Meanwhile, the State Department reiterated the administration’s opposition to sanctions against the ICC.
