US Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated potential collaboration with lawmakers on imposing sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) as its prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials. During a congressional hearing, Blinken expressed his commitment to addressing what he described as a “profoundly wrong-headed decision” by the ICC.
This development comes as Republican lawmakers push for sanctions on ICC officials, with a vote potentially occurring this week. Although the United States is not a member of the ICC, it has supported previous prosecutions, including an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin related to the war in Ukraine.
During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Senator James Risch, a leading Republican, questioned Blinken about supporting legislation to prevent the ICC from intervening in matters involving countries with independent judicial systems. Blinken responded affirmatively, expressing a willingness to work on a bipartisan basis to find an appropriate response.
The ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, recently announced the application for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three Hamas officials: Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh.
US President Joe Biden criticized the application for arrest warrants, stating there was “no equivalence” between Israel and Hamas. Blinken’s comments reflect broader opposition in Washington to the ICC’s decision. Several measures to impose sanctions on the ICC have been introduced in Congress as the court continues its inquiry into Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Support is growing for a bill introduced by Texas Republican Chip Roy, titled the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, which targets ICC officials involved in the case. The bill proposes blocking these officials from entering the US, revoking their visas, and prohibiting property transactions unless the ICC ceases its cases against “protected persons of the United States and its allies.” The legislation has garnered support from at least 37 Republican lawmakers.
House Republican leaders, including Elise Stefanik, who recently visited Israel and met with Netanyahu, have expressed strong support for the bill. Stefanik described the ICC’s actions as equating a nation’s right to exist with terrorist groups. Kentucky Republican Andy Barr echoed this sentiment, advocating for sanctions in response to the ICC’s case against Israel.
The stance of Democratic lawmakers remains uncertain, with some expressing reservations about imposing sanctions on the ICC. Senator Chris Coons suggested waiting for the ICC judges’ ruling before deciding on sanctions. However, some left-wing Democrats, like Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, support the ICC’s actions and emphasize the importance of upholding judicial processes.
The White House, through Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, stated that discussions with lawmakers are ongoing regarding the next steps. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted the US’s willingness to use sanctions against the ICC with interest.
It is unclear if the proposed sanctions will gain sufficient support to advance in Congress, as both the Republican-led House and the Democrat-controlled Senate deliberate on the matter.
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