Thu Jan 09 22:17:43 UTC 2025: **US House Votes to Sanction International Criminal Court Over Netanyahu Arrest Warrant**

Washington D.C. – The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill on Thursday to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move directly retaliating against the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act” passed with a 243-140 vote, garnering bipartisan support with 45 Democrats joining Republicans.

The bill, which now heads to the Senate, authorizes sanctions against any foreign individual who assists the ICC in investigating, detaining, or prosecuting US citizens or citizens of allied nations that don’t recognize the court’s authority. These sanctions include asset freezes and visa denials.

The legislation is a direct response to the ICC’s investigation into alleged war crimes committed during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinians. UN experts have described Israel’s actions as potentially genocidal. Neither the US nor Israel are members of the ICC, but the court asserts jurisdiction over crimes committed within the territory of a member state, like Palestine.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) characterized the ICC as a “kangaroo court” for targeting Israel’s leadership. While supporters frame the bill as defending a key ally, critics, including numerous human rights organizations, condemned it as an attack on an independent judicial body and a dangerous precedent that could undermine international justice and harm victims seeking accountability for atrocities worldwide. They warn that the sanctions will jeopardize access to justice for victims of crimes in other ICC investigations and damage US relations with its allies.

Despite these concerns, the Senate is expected to swiftly pass the bill, paving the way for President-elect Trump to sign it into law. This echoes a similar action taken by President Trump in 2020, though those sanctions were later rescinded by President Biden. The ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, maintains that the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant align with the court’s established procedures and are intended to prevent ongoing crimes.

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