Main gate of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague
The vote in the US House of Representatives was carried out with a result of 243-140 in favor of passing the “Illegal Court Response Act”.
The content of the bill is to embargo any foreigner from organizing the investigation, arrest or trial of US citizens as well as allied countries, including Israel, that are not members of the ICC. Neither Israel nor the US are currently ICC members.
A total of 45 Democratic members voted in favor with 198 Republican members supporting the bill. No Republicans voted against it.
“America voted to pass this bill because a disguised court (referring to the ICC) sought to arrest the prime minister of the US ally Israel,” Reuters on January 10 quoted congressman Brian Mast, Chairman of the Committee. US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, speaking before the vote.
The results of the vote in the House of Representatives, one of the first acts of the new US Congress after the start of its term, showed strong Republican support for the Israeli government.
Currently, the Republican Party controls both chambers of the US Congress, and new Majority Leader John Thune in the Senate promises to act quickly when accepting the above bill, allowing Donald Trump to sign it into law immediately after taking office. US President on January 20.
The ICC is a permanent court in The Hague (Netherlands) that can prosecute individuals who commit war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
Previously, on November 19, 2024, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and a Hamas leader.
The ICC judges said there was a basis to hold Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant criminally responsible for the acts they accused of including murder, repression and causing famine as a weapon of war in Gaza. Israel denies all of the ICC’s accusations.
In March of the same year, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin because of the conflict in Ukraine.
Moscow then retaliated by issuing an arrest warrant against the ICC president.
The ICC does not have its own police force to execute arrest warrants, but relies on the judicial systems of its 124 member states if it wants to proceed.
Russia has not commented on the new move by the US House of Representatives.
