US House Approves Sanctions Against International Criminal Court Over Israel
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that allows Washington to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to its actions against the United States and its allies. This legislation calls for the U.S. President to sanction ICC officials who issued arrest warrants against Israeli officials.
The sanctions include denying visas, freezing assets in the United States, and prohibiting U.S. citizens and companies from dealing with individuals listed. The bill passed with 243 members of the House voting in favor and 140 against.
The text of the bill explicitly states that the administration must impose sanctions on the ICC if it
“seeks to investigate, detain, arrest, or prosecute any person with immunity.” This category
includes Americans, particularly military personnel, anyone who has worked or is working for the
U.S. government, and citizens of countries allied with the U.S., provided these countries do not
recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC.
In November of last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of committing “war crimes
and crimes against humanity” during Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.
The bill was proposed by Congressman Brian Mast, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, in collaboration with Congressman Chip Roy, aiming to sanction the ICC for what they
consider “its unjustified targeting of Israel.”
Israeli Proposal for an International Conference to Divide Syria into Cantons
