U.S. House passes sanctions bill against ICC following war crimes charges against Israeli leaders

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday targeting the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to the court’s recent move to pursue war crimes charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The vote saw a rare bipartisan split, with a 247 to 155 tally, as 42 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the contentious bill.

Named the “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act,” the legislation spearheaded by Texas Republican Representative Chip Roy, mandates sanctions and visa restrictions against any foreign individuals engaged in ICC actions that implicate the U.S., Israel, or other non-ICC member allies.

This legislative move comes after the ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on 20 May, alleging their involvement in war crimes in Gaza.

The accusations laid out by Khan include severe charges such as the starvation of civilians and intentional attacks against civilian populations.

Furthermore, Khan’s office has also moved to issue arrest warrants for Hamas leaders Yehya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, accusing them of orchestrating violence that led to the deaths of numerous Israeli civilians.

In response to the claims, U.S. President Joe Biden strongly defended Israel, saying Israeli forces are not committing genocide in their military campaign against Hamas militants in Gaza.

Prime Minister Netanyahu vehemently rejected the ICC’s allegations, labelling them as “absurd” and a “hit job” during an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He criticized the charges as tarnishing the ICC’s reputation.

The nine-page bill mandates sanctions against any individual participating in ICC investigations or prosecutions targeting Americans or citizens of U.S. allies not party to the ICC, including Israel.

The passage of the bill was met with mixed reactions within the U.S. political landscape.

While Speaker Mike Johnson argued the necessity of the bill to counter what he deemed illegitimate investigations by the ICC, the White House expressed its reservations. Despite condemning the ICC’s request for warrants, the Biden administration voiced concerns over the bill, advocating for alternative measures to defend Israel and uphold international justice standards without endorsing the legislation.

The leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee from both the Republican and Democratic parties have recognized that the bill is unlikely to be enacted into law. They remain open to additional negotiations with the White House and expressed that it would be preferable for Congress to present a united front against the court based in The Hague.

As debates continue, the bill’s fate in the Senate remains uncertain, and its implications on U.S.-ICC relations and broader international diplomacy are yet to be fully realized.

Additionally, a joint investigation by the Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call shed light on Israel’s extensive efforts to impede the ICC’s investigation into alleged war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories. The report details how Israeli intelligence services, including Mossad, actively monitored and exerted pressure on key ICC personnel.

The investigation even claimed that the head of Mossad directly threatened the ICC’s former chief prosecutor to obstruct the inquiry, highlighting the lengths to which Israel has gone to challenge the ICC’s proceedings.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on 7 October, killing 1,139 people and taking 251 others hostage, according to Israeli authorities.

At least 36,470 people have since been killed in Gaza during Israel’s military campaign, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.