United States lawmakers are considering imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it proceeds with issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to US House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“In the absence of leadership from the White House, Congress is reviewing all options, including sanctions, to punish the ICC and ensure its leadership faces consequences if they proceed. If the ICC is allowed to threaten Israeli leaders, ours could be next,” Johnson said in a statement on Monday.
He further criticized the ICC, stating, “The ICC has no authority over Israel or the United States, and today’s baseless and illegitimate decision should face global condemnation.”
The controversy follows ICC chief prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan’s announcement on May 20 of arrest warrant applications against Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh for alleged crimes against humanity during Israel’s seven-month-old war against Hamas in Gaza.
Republican lawmakers have been vocal in their opposition, with House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik telling the New York Post, “The ICC is an illegitimate court that equivocates a peaceful nation protecting its right to exist with radical terror groups that commit genocide.” Stefanik had met with Netanyahu on Monday morning as the warrants were announced.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also condemned the warrants, calling them “shameful and unserious.”
Earlier this month, a Texas Representative introduced the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act to revoke visas for ICC officials investigating or prosecuting US officials or American allies.
Human rights attorney Amal Clooney, who advised the ICC prosecutor, explained her involvement, stating, “I served on this panel because I believe in the rule of law and the need to protect civilian lives. The law that protects civilians in war was developed more than 100 years ago and it applies in every country in the world regardless of the reasons for a conflict,” in a statement on the Clooney Foundation for Justice website.
US President Joe Biden termed the ICC prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants as “outrageous,” asserting that the US “will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also rejected the ICC Prosecutor’s equivalence between Israel and Hamas, warning that the announcement could jeopardize negotiations on a hostage deal and ceasefire. He emphasized that the United States has been clear that the ICC has no jurisdiction over this matter and noted that the ICC Prosecutor was scheduled to visit Israel next week to discuss the investigation with the Israeli Government.
In response to the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called the warrant “absurd and false,” stating it targets not only him and the defense minister but also the entire State of Israel and its soldiers who are “fighting with supreme heroism against the vile Hamas murderers.” This statement was reported by the Times of Israel.