Radio Resistance on Nostr: Al Jazeera 9 Jan 2025 US House passes bill to sanction ICC officials over Israel ...
Al Jazeera 9 Jan 2025
US House passes bill to sanction ICC officials over Israel warrants
The bill would require sanctions on ICC officials “engaged in any effort to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any protected person of the United States and its allies”, particularly Israel.
The legislation’s text called the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant “illegitimate and baseless”. It said the warrants “create a damaging precedent that threatens the United States, Israel, and all United States partners who have not consented to the ICC’s jurisdiction”.
The ICC has maintained that the warrants are valid because the alleged war crimes were committed in the occupied Palestinian territory. The State of Palestine is a signatory of the ICC’s founding charter, the Rome statute. The sanctions bill could also apply to ICC member states that aid in enforcing the warrants.
Underscoring the broad support for Israel in the chamber, 45 Democrats joined with 198 Republicans to pass the bill, which will need to pass in the Republican-controlled Senate and be signed by the president before it becomes law.
The 140 opponents of the House bill were all Democrats. One Republican voted “present”.
President-elect Trump, who takes office on January 20, had previously sanctioned ICC officials during his first term.
US House passes bill to sanction ICC officials over Israel warrants
The bill would require sanctions on ICC officials “engaged in any effort to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any protected person of the United States and its allies”, particularly Israel.
The legislation’s text called the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant “illegitimate and baseless”. It said the warrants “create a damaging precedent that threatens the United States, Israel, and all United States partners who have not consented to the ICC’s jurisdiction”.
The ICC has maintained that the warrants are valid because the alleged war crimes were committed in the occupied Palestinian territory. The State of Palestine is a signatory of the ICC’s founding charter, the Rome statute. The sanctions bill could also apply to ICC member states that aid in enforcing the warrants.
Underscoring the broad support for Israel in the chamber, 45 Democrats joined with 198 Republicans to pass the bill, which will need to pass in the Republican-controlled Senate and be signed by the president before it becomes law.
The 140 opponents of the House bill were all Democrats. One Republican voted “present”.
President-elect Trump, who takes office on January 20, had previously sanctioned ICC officials during his first term.