The House has passed a bill to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) after its top prosecutor announced he was seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli leaders.
On Tuesday, the House voted 247-155 to pass the bill with 42 Democrats voting in favor of it, and two lawmakers voting present.
Last month, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said he requested an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel’s war against Hamas after its Oct. 7 attack.
He also requested an arrest warrant for Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gollant.
Additionally, Khan is seeking arrest warrants for Yahya Sinwar, Muhammad Deif and Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.
The New York Times notes, “While Mr. Khan’s request must still be approved by judges from the court, the announcement is a blow to the government of Mr. Netanyahu and will likely fuel international criticism of Israel’s strategy in its seven-month campaign against Hamas and the war’s toll on Gaza’s civilian population.”
It pointed out that Israel is not a member of the ICC. However, if Netanyahu, Gollant, or the leaders of Hamas travel to any of the 124 countries that members and the arrest warrants are issued, they could be arrested.
The United States is also not a member of the ICC, but many European nations are.
In a statement, Khan said he has “reasonable grounds to believe” that Sinwar, Haniyeh, and Deif are responsible for “war crimes and crimes against humanity” by “the killing of hundreds of Israeli civilians in attacks perpetrated by Hamas.”
“It is the view of my Office that these individuals planned and instigated the commission of crimes on 7 October 2023, and have through their own actions, including personal visits to hostages shortly after their kidnapping, acknowledged their responsibility for those crimes,” Khan’s statement added.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor accused Netanyahu and Gollant of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the accusation that Israel was using starvation as a tactic in its war against Hamas and “intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population.”
Khan stated Israel has a right to defend itself, but it cannot do so while “intentionally causing death, starvation, great suffering, and serious injury to body or health of the civilian population.”
President Joe Biden has criticized the move, calling it “outrageous” and vowing that the U.S. will “always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”
However, NBC News notes, “The administration said, but it also opposes sanctioning ‘the ICC, its personnel, its judges, or those who assist its work. There are more effective ways to defend Israel, preserve U.S. positions on the ICC, and promote international justice and accountability, and the Administration stands ready to work with the Congress on those options.'”
The bill is not expected to pass the Senate.
