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Key Points
- The US House has passed a bill to sanction International Criminal Court officials over Israel.
- The Senate has promised swift consideration of the act so President-elect Trump can sign it into law.
- The ICC says its decision to pursue warrants against Israeli officials is in line with its approach in all cases.
It accused them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Hamas-Israel War, claims that Israel rejects.
“America is passing this law because a kangaroo court is seeking to arrest the prime minister of our great ally, Israel,” Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Brian Mast, said.
What is the bill?
Forty-five Democrats joined 198 Republicans in backing the bill. No Republican voted against it.
The House vote, one of the first since the new Congress was seated last week, underscored strong support among President-elect Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans for Israel’s government, now that they control both chambers in Congress.
The court has said its decision to pursue warrants against the Israeli officials was in line with its approach in all cases, based on an assessment by the prosecutor that there was enough evidence to proceed, and the view that seeking arrest warrants immediately could prevent ongoing crimes.
