'The United States of Israel': Congress bashed for bill sanctioning ICC over Netanyahu arrest warrant

WASHINGTON, DC: The House of Representatives passed legislation on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, to impose sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials pursuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The bill, approved in a 247-155 vote with 42 Democrats joining all Republicans in favor, would compel President Joe Biden to bar entry into the United States, annul visas, and levy financial sanctions on individuals in The Hague linked to the attempts to apprehend Netanyahu, 74, and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, 65, for alleged war crimes stemming from Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on the Jewish state.

Congressmen Thomas Massie (R-Ky) and Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) abstained from voting by choosing “present”, the New York Post reported.

What did House Republicans say about the bill getting passed?

Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said in a statement, “Today, House Republicans passed the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act which will hold the corrupt ICC accountable to protect Israel and our allies from baseless attacks from antisemitic unelected bureaucrats at the ICC.”

“The ICC is an illegitimate court that equivocates a peaceful nation protecting its right to exist with radical terror groups that commit genocide,” she remarked.

The decision follows an announcement by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan in May 2024, stating that his office would seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Neither the United States nor Israel are members of the ICC.

The White House has expressed apprehension over the possibility of issuing arrest warrants against a key US ally, although it did not endorse the House sanctions package.

"The Administration strongly opposes HR 8282, the 'Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act,'" the White House Office of Management and Budget declared in a statement of administration policy on Monday.

“This legislation could require sanctions against court staff, judges, witnesses, and US allies and partners who provide even limited, targeted support to the court in a range of aspects of its work,” the Biden administration continued.

“The Administration is deeply concerned about the ICC Prosecutor’s heedless rush to apply for arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials,” the statement read. “At the same time, the Administration opposes the imposition of sanctions against the ICC, its personnel, its judges, or those who assist its work.”

The White House went on to say that “there are more effective ways to defend Israel.” 

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) informed reporters on Tuesday that he believes the bill will be "dead on arrival" in the Senate.

Congress bashed for bill sanctioning ICC officials over Netanyahu arrest warrant

One X user asked, "What else would you expect out of our corrupt Congress? I hear Netanyahu will soon be arriving with suitcases full of money, that's why he was invited to speak to a joint session."

Another wrote, "Wonder why the countries that commit the most atrocities aren’t members of that court?"

One person said, "The United States of Israel...... What a f**kng joke."

Another claimed, "The US terrorist regime and its "rules based order"..."

One individual wrote, "This is wild. Seems like a pretty drastic move."

One person tweeted, "Won't get to the Senate floor."

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