The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill imposing sanctions on officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The legislation includes provisions to deny visas to ICC officials pursuing cases against U.S. citizens and allies.
The bill asserts that “the ICC’s actions against Israel are illegitimate and pose a threat to our nation and our allies.” It strongly condemns the issuance of arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, calling for their denunciation in the strongest terms, according to media reports.
The bill also urges the U.S. government to terminate any funding allocated to the ICC.
It is worth noting that the ICC issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza war.
Brian Mast, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the legislation to sanction the ICC. This move was in response to the court’s arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, which stem from allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Mast described the warrants as “an unjustified political attack on Israel,” emphasizing that the bill serves as a warning to the ICC to avoid interfering in the affairs of sovereign nations or taking action against U.S. allies.
He added, “Israel, as a key partner of the United States, will not be left alone to face politically motivated decisions.”
On November 22, 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant following investigations into the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 2023.
These investigations documented crimes committed by the Israeli occupation, including deliberate targeting of civilians, destruction of critical infrastructure such as hospitals and schools, and mass killings, as reported by international human rights organizations.
These developments have sparked significant international momentum, with human rights groups like Amnesty International describing the ICC’s actions as a historic step toward achieving justice for the victims of armed conflicts in Gaza.
The U.S. Position
The United States has long opposed the ICC, particularly when its investigations involve Israel or U.S. forces. The newly passed legislation reflects Washington’s traditional policy of prioritizing the protection of its allies from international prosecution.
However, the bill has faced criticism within the U.S., with some arguing that such measures undermine Washington’s credibility as a global advocate for justice and human rights, placing it in a contradictory position.
The ICC arrest warrants present new challenges for Netanyahu and Gallant, potentially restricting their international movements and opening the possibility of their arrest in any member state of the ICC.
