From: The Times of Israel January 9, 2025 US House votes to sanction International Criminal Court ICC over Israel arrest warrants
Nearly all House Republicans, several Democrats back legislation punishing the ICC for going after Netanyahu, Gallant, but measure will face bumpier path through Senate
The US House of Representatives voted on Thursday to sanction the ICC to protest its decision to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over Israel’s campaign against the Hamas terror group in Gaza.
The sanctions include blocking or revoking visas and prohibiting US property transactions.
The legislation states that the US and Israel are not signatories to the Rome Statute that created the ICC, which accordingly has no jurisdiction over their conduct.
45 Democrats joined 198 Republicans in backing the bill.
The House vote, one of the first since the new Congress was seated last week, underscored strong support for Israel’s government among President-elect Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans, who now control both chambers, in Congress.
Trump will be sworn in on January 20, 2025 for a second term as president.
“America is passing this law because a kangaroo court is seeking to arrest the prime minister of our great ally, Israel,” Florida Republican Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a House speech before the vote.
The legislation still needs to be okayed in the Senate where it will have a harder time passing, although newly appointed Republican majority leader John Thune has promised swift consideration of the act so Trump can sign it into law shortly after taking office.
