A bill passed by the US House of Representatives on Thursday that would impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court ( ICC). According to Al Jazeera, this is in response to the judge’s arrest warrants for previous defense secretary Yoav Gallant and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The legislation called the” Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act”, received overwhelming support, passing 243 to 140.
The act seeks to prosecute people aiding the ICC in investigating, arresting, or prosecuting US citizens or residents of allied countries that reject the judge’s control. For instance, authorities can freeze goods and refuse to grant visas to those responsible.
Representative Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, defended the legislation, describing the ICC as a “kangaroo judge” badly targeting Israel, a crucial US alliance, according to Al Jazeera.
The ICC’s incarceration permits, issued in May 2023, accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of war crimes during the Gaza issue, which has resulted in significant deaths. Israel is not a part of the ICC, but the jury, which has been a part since 2015, claims authority over acts committed in Palestine.
The act was criticized by human rights organizations because it undermined efforts to establish international fairness and undermined the ICC’s authority.
The policy is expected to pass immediately through the Republican-controlled Senate, probably allowing President-elect Donald Trump to sign it into law.
President Joe Biden after retaliated by imposing restrictions on ICC officials in 2020 over similar investigations into US and Israeli routines.
The ICC, based in The Hague, continues to investigate war crimes widespread, including claims against Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine.
