US House passes bill to sanction ICC officials involved in issuing arrest warrant against Netanyahu

The United States House of Representatives on Thursday voted in favour of a bill which intends to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC). The sanctions would be imposed in retaliation to the international tribunal’s decision to issue arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

The bill which will impose the sanction is called the “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act” and was passed by the lawmakers by an overwhelming majority. According to NBC News, 243 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill and 140 lawmakers voted against it.

The passing of the bill reflects America’s strong support for Israel. Out of the 243 lawmakers, 45 Democrats joined 198 Republicans in backing the bill. No Republicans voted against it.

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What’s next?

The bill now heads to the US Senate, where a Republican majority has already been sworn in this month. The legislation proposes sanctions for any foreigner who helps the ICC in its attempts to investigate, detain or prosecute a US citizen or citizen of an allied country that does not recognise the authority of the court.

It is pertinent to note that neither the United States nor the state of Israel are parties to the Rome Statue which established the ICC. The sanctions are expected to include the freezing of property assets, as well as the denial of visas to any foreigners who materially or financially contribute to the court’s efforts.

“America is passing this law because a kangaroo court is seeking to arrest the prime minister of our great ally, Israel,” Representative Brian Mast, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a speech before the Thursday voting. The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has led to the death of 1,200 Israelis and 46,000 Palestinians since it began in October 2023.

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The ongoing conflict prompted ICC prosecutors last May to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant along with Hamas leaders - Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar & Mohammad Deif. However, all the Hamas leaders involved in the case have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.

Meanwhile, the US Senate, under Majority Leader John Thune, has pledged a swift consideration and assured that the bill would be signed by US President-elect Donald Trump after he assumes the Oval Office on January 20.

With inputs from agencies.