WASHINGTON – The Home of Representatives voted Tuesday to impose sanctions in opposition to the Worldwide Prison Court docket for its transfer to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials for battle crimes within the nation war against Hamas.
The vote was 247-155, with practically each Republican and several other dozen Democrats voting for it. Two Republicans, representatives. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio, voting current.
Nevertheless, the sanctions invoice is unlikely to obtain a vote within the Democratic-controlled Senate. Though President Joe Biden referred to as the ICC's actions “outrageous,” his administration mentioned in an announcement Monday that it “strongly opposes” the invoice to sanction the court docket.
The Biden administration stays “deeply involved concerning the ICC Prosecutor's reckless rush to use for arrest warrants for senior Israeli officers,” the administration mentioned, nevertheless it additionally opposes sanctioning “the ICC, its employees, judges there are more practical methods to guard Israel, protect US positions on the ICC, and promote worldwide justice and accountability, and the administration is keen to work with Congress on these choices.”
Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Karim AA Khan said in a statement final month the court docket was to challenge an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, the chief of Hamas Yahya Sinwar and different Israeli and Hamas leaders, accusing leaders on each side of the battle of crimes in opposition to humanity and battle crimes. A 3-judge panel will hear the case and finally resolve whether or not to challenge warrants.
Israel has confronted rising criticism for its dealing with of the battle in opposition to Hamas, launched after the October 7 assaults that killed 1,200 Israelis. At least 35,000 people in Gaza have been killed in any case, a lot of them girls and youngsters. Biden said not too long ago it’s “unsure” whether or not Israeli forces had dedicated battle crimes, however admitted that “harmless folks” in Gaza had been killed. i’ve too said there’s “each motive” to consider that Netanyahu is prolonging the battle for political achieve.
Regardless of Biden's criticism of the ICC, different US and Israeli allies, together with France and Belgium, have defended independence of the court docket. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned the transfer to arrest warrants was “not useful” as allies search for a solution to finish the battle and assist with humanitarian help within the area.
Congressional Republicans, particularly, balked on the ICC measure, resulting in Tuesday's Home vote on Sanctions legislation by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas. Some Democrats have joined these criticisms of the court docket, with Rep. Josh Gottheimer, DN.J., chief a letter of two dozen members from each events calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to impose sanctions on the ICC.
“The accusations in opposition to Israeli leaders are baseless,” wrote 24 members in that letter. “They mirror the ICC's well-documented historic bias in opposition to Israel. The proof is evident: Hamas terrorists are accountable for wreaking havoc and sowing destruction. …This tragic battle might finish tomorrow if Hamas would lay down its arms, launch hostages and would permit extra humanitarian help to the area. As a substitute of working in direction of a peaceable and simply answer, the ICC is enjoying politics.”
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., mentioned he additionally opposes the ICC ruling, however mentioned he couldn’t assist the “partisan” Home invoice that’s “lifeless on arrival within the Senate of the USA”. Nonetheless, Jeffries mentioned he believes there’s room for bipartisan laws on the problem.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., referred to as the ICC's motion “outrageous” and “unconscionable” at a information convention Tuesday morning earlier than the vote.
“The ICC ought to be punished for this motion,” he mentioned. “We can’t permit this to face. If the ICC was allowed to do that and go after leaders of nations whose actions they disagree with, why wouldn't they go after America?”
Netanyahu is predicted addressed personally to both houses of Congress within the coming weeks. He not too long ago accepted an invite from 4 prime leaders in Congress — Johnson, Jeffries and Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. – to talk at a joint session of Congress. A date has not been set for that speech.
Netanyahu additionally referred to as the ICC's ruling “outrageous,” suggesting the court docket was making a “false ethical equivalence between the leaders of Israel and the henchmen of Hamas” just like the rulings of President George W. Bush and Osama Bin Laden. on the identical ethical degree. after September. 11 assaults.
The arrest warrants, Netanyahu mentioned, are “an ethical affront of historic proportions” that may “solid an everlasting mark of disgrace on the worldwide court docket.”