The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that aims to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The legislation, which passed overwhelmingly with 243 votes in favor and 155 against, now moves to the Senate, where it faces a tougher path to approval.
To pass, Republicans will need support from approximately seven Democrats, a challenge given the Biden administration’s reluctance to back punitive actions against the ICC.
The bill targets any ICC official or entity involved in investigating or prosecuting US and Israeli citizens, citing that both the US and Israel are not signatories to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.
Therefore, the bill argues, the ICC has no jurisdiction over their actions.
It calls for sanctions including visa restrictions and property transaction prohibitions against ICC officials involved in such efforts.
According to Times of Israel, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has strongly supported the bill, while the dovish group J Street has opposed it.
This move underscores the ongoing tension between the US, Israel, and the ICC, particularly regarding the court’s actions towards Israeli officials.
The House vote marks a continuation of US-Israel tensions surrounding international law, further complicated by the need for Senate approval, where bipartisan support will be crucial for the bill’s passage.
