House Approves Bill Imposing Sanctions on ICC for Issuing Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu

January 9, 2025 TruthUSA

The bill targeting the International Criminal Court is now headed to the Senate, where Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is expected to introduce it.

On Jan. 9, the House approved a bill to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), passed by a vote of 243–140 with one voting “present.”

The bill will now move to the Senate, where Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is expected to address the issue. Thune has expressed his displeasure with the warrants.

“After the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defense minister in November, I called on the Democrat leader to bring up an ICC sanctions bill that had already passed the House—again with bipartisan support,” Thune stated on the Senate floor on Jan. 8.

“The ICC’s rogue actions only enable the terrorists who seek to wipe Israel off the map—and they cannot be allowed to stand unchecked. In November, I promised that if [then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)] wouldn’t bring the ICC sanctions bill to the floor, Republicans would. And we’ll soon fulfill that promise and have a vote to support our ally Israel.”

The ICC issued the arrest warrants on Nov. 21, 2024, for Netanyahu and Gallant “for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed” between at least Oct. 8, 2023, and at least May 20, 2024, that include “the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.” These allegations come amid Israel’s war with the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza in response to the latter’s air, land, and sea attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which left 1,200 people dead, thousands injured, and more than 250 people kidnapped.

The ICC also issued arrest warrants for former Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh. Sinwar was killed by Israel on Oct. 16, 2024.

Netanyahu expressed his disdain for the warrant against him, calling it based on “the absurd and false actions” of the ICC.

“There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza,” he stated in a release.

Gallant criticized the warrant against him, stating that it “sets a dangerous precedent against the right to self-defense and moral warfare and encourages murderous terrorism.”

Netanyahu removed Gallant from his position as defense minister on Nov. 5, 2024.

The House bill would authorize the United States to impose sanctions on ICC officials and those who assist in arresting and prosecuting individuals protected against ICC prosecution, such as U.S. and Israeli officials, as both countries are not under the jurisdiction of the Hague institution.

These sanctions would restrict those targeted from accessing assets in the U.S. and prevent their entry into the country.

Ultimately, the bill would terminate all U.S. funding for the ICC.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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