WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated the Biden administration’s readiness to collaborate with Congress on potential sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) officials. This comes in response to the ICC prosecutor’s recent request for arrest warrants for Israeli leaders concerning the Gaza conflict.
During a Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham expressed his desire for renewed U.S. sanctions on the ICC following the announcement by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan. “I want to take actions, not just words,” Graham stated, asking Blinken if he would support a bipartisan effort to sanction the ICC to protect U.S. interests and address concerns regarding Israel.
“I welcome working with you on that,” Blinken replied.
Prosecutor Khan’s announcement suggested there were reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s defense chief, and three Hamas leaders bear criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Both President Joe Biden and his political opponents have criticized Khan’s announcement, arguing that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the Gaza conflict and raising concerns about the process.
Although the United States is not a member of the ICC, it has supported previous prosecutions, including the ICC’s decision last year to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.
Earlier on Tuesday, Blinken mentioned in another hearing that he would work with Congress on an appropriate response to the ICC’s move, calling it “profoundly wrong-headed.” He noted that the move could complicate efforts to reach a hostage deal and a ceasefire in Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
Republican members of Congress have previously considered legislation to impose sanctions on the ICC. However, any such measure would require support from President Biden and the Democratic-controlled Senate to become law.
In 2020, the Trump administration accused the ICC of infringing on U.S. national sovereignty when it authorized an investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan, targeting court staff with asset freezes and travel bans. President Biden lifted those sanctions in April 2021, stating that the previous measures were inappropriate and ineffective.
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