US House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday aimed at imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). This comes in response to the court’s arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, reported Al Jazeera.
The legislation called the “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act,” received overwhelming support, passing 243 to 140.
The bill seeks to penalise anyone aiding the ICC in investigating, arresting, or prosecuting US citizens or citizens of allied nations that reject the court’s jurisdiction. Sanctions include freezing assets and denying visas to those involved.
Representative Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, defended the legislation, describing the ICC as a “kangaroo court” unfairly targeting Israel, a key US ally, according to Al Jazeera.
The ICC’s arrest warrants, issued in May 2023, accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of war crimes during the Gaza conflict, which has resulted in significant casualties. While Israel is not a member of the ICC, the court claims jurisdiction over crimes committed within Palestine, a member since 2015.
Human rights groups criticised the bill, arguing it undermines global justice efforts and weakens the ICC’s independence.
The legislation is expected to pass quickly through the Republican-controlled Senate, potentially allowing President-elect Donald Trump to sign it into law.
In 2020, Trump imposed sanctions on ICC officials over similar investigations into US and Israeli activities, which President Joe Biden later reversed.
The ICC, based in The Hague, continues to investigate war crimes worldwide, including allegations against Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine.
