The United States pass Bill to sanction the International Criminal Court over Netanyahu arrest warrant

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed legislation on Tuesday that would sanction the International Criminal Court for requesting arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. The 247-155 vote amounts to Congress’ first legislative rebuke of the war-crimes court since its stunning decision last month to seek arrest warrants for the leaders of Israel and Hamas. The move was widely denounced in Washington, creating a rare moment of unity on Israel even as partisan divisions over the war with Hamas intensified.

While the House bill was expected to pass Tuesday, it failed to attract significant Democratic support, dulling its chances in the Senate. The White House opposes the legislation, calling it overreach.

“This bill would have a chilling effect on the ICC as an institution which could hamper the court’s efforts to prosecute the dubious atrocities that have been perpetrated in many places around the world, from Ukraine to Uganda,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The legislation reprimanding the ICC was just the latest show of support from House Republicans since the conflict in Israel on Oct. 7 which led to more than one hundred thousand people dead and thousands missing in the rubble, many of them women and children. Republicans have held several votes related to Israel in recent months, highlighting divisions among Democrats over support for the U.S. ally. Congressional leaders have invited Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress this summer, which is likely to further inflame tensions over Israel’s handling of the war. Many Democrats are expected to boycott the speech.

Both the ICC and the United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice, have begun to investigate both Israel and Hamas, but cited that what Israel have done is Gaza is amount to genocide during the seven-month assault. Last month, ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, accused Netanyahu, his defense minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders — Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh — of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel. Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders condemned the ICC’s move as disgraceful and antisemitic. President Joe Biden and members of Congress also lambasted the prosecutor and supported Israel’s right to defend itself.

“Failing to act here in the Congress would make us complicit with the ICC’s illegitimate actions and we must not stay silent,” McCaul said. “We must stand with our allies.”

**Arrest Warrants Sought Over War Crimes**

**Updated on: June 4, 2024 / 4:48 PM EDT / CBS News**

Washington — The House passed a Republican-backed bill that would punish the International Criminal Court over the decision to seek the arrests of top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The bill passed the House in a vote of 247 to 155. Forty-two Democrats joined 205 Republicans to vote in favor of it, further exposing Democratic divisions over the war in Gaza. Two Republicans voted present.

“The ICC has to be punished for this action,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said Tuesday. “We cannot allow this to stand.”

The legislation, which was introduced by Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and is cosponsored by more than 70 Republicans, would sanction those involved in “any effort to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any protected person of the United States and its allies.” The sanctions include revoking U.S. visas held by ICC officials, blocking their entry into the U.S., and preventing them from property transactions.

Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, said members of his party still support Israel, despite their opposition to the measure. “The relationship that the U.S. has with Israel is strong,” he told reporters Tuesday.

State Department spokesperson Matt Miller reiterated the administration’s opposition to the sanctions bill. “We have made clear that while we oppose the decision taken by the prosecutor of the ICC, we don’t think it is appropriate, especially while there are ongoing investigations inside Israel looking at somebody’s very same questions, and we were willing to work with Congress on what a response might look like but we don’t support sanctions,” Miller said.

The House bill would apply sweeping economic sanctions and visa restrictions to individuals and judges associated with the ICC, including their family members. Democrats labeled the approach as “overly broad,” warning it could ensnare Americans and U.S. companies that do important work with the court.

“This bill would have a chilling effect on the ICC as an institution which could hamper the court’s efforts to prosecute the dubious atrocities that have been perpetrated in many places around the world,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks.