The US House of Representatives passed a bill to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) after its prosecutor sought arrest warrants against Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, over charges related to the Gaza war.
The bill targets ICC officials involved in the case by blocking their entry to the US.
The bill passed with Republican support but is not expected to become law as it will be ignored by Democrats who control the US Senate.
The legislation seeks to sanction the ICC prosecutor for investigating Israeli actions.
The text discusses the proposed legislation in the US Senate and House to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to the court's decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu.
President Biden opposes the bill, but some Democrats, particularly those who support Israel, have expressed support for the sanctions.
The legislation would revoke US visas and restrict property transactions for ICC officials if it became law.
Republicans have introduced similar legislation, labeling the ICC a threat to US sovereignty.
Democrats who oppose the measure have criticized the Israeli government but also support Israel.
A bill passed in the US House of Representatives on Monday threatens to cut off American funding to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it investigates or prosecutes Americans, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes.
Critics argue this undermines the rules-based international order and could lead to sanctions against US allies supporting the ICC.
The ICC's chief prosecutor recently announced plans to investigate Netanyahu and other Israeli and Hamas leaders for crimes during the 2014 Gaza war, marking the first time the court has targeted a top US ally.
Netanyahu was invited to speak to Congress this summer, but the date has not been finalized.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is facing criticism from the US and Israel following the announcement of warrants for investigations into alleged war crimes.
Republican Speaker of the House Mike
Johnson called for the ICC to be punished and expressed concern about potential action against American leaders.
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant denounced the warrants against them as a "moral outrage" and an attempt to deny their country's right to self-defense.
Hamas, a terrorist organization proscribed by Israel, the US, and other countries, demanded the cancellation of the warrants for its leaders and accused the ICC prosecutor of equating the victim with the executioner.
Both Israel and Hamas reacted with outrage to the ICC's actions.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is considering issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over alleged crimes against Palestinians.
If warrants are issued, it will be up to ICC member states, including the UK and US allies, to enforce them.
The US, which is not an ICC member, has criticized the move as "outrageous" but does not support sanctions against the ICC.
The ICC investigates and prosecutes genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes when national authorities cannot or will not do so.
The US has previously supported ICC prosecutions not related to Israel and the Palestinians.
In 2020, under the Trump administration, the US imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials, including the court's previous prosecutor, in response to the ICC's investigation into alleged war crimes committed by the US and others in the Afghan conflict.
The text also mentions the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which began in 2000 when Hamas gunmen attacked Israel, resulting in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken, according to Israeli authorities.
Since then, at least 36,470 people have been killed in Gaza during Israel's military campaigns to destroy Hamas, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.