US passed legislation that would impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court
Washington:
The Republican-led US House of Representatives has approved legislation that would impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court over its prosecutor’s decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli officials in connection with the war in Gaza.
The vote was 247 to 155, with 42 Democrats joining Republicans in supporting the measure. There were no Republican “no” votes, although two voted “present.”
The measure is not expected to become law, but it reflects continued support for Israel in Congress amid international criticism over the Middle Eastern country’s campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The White House last month criticized the ICC’s decision to request the warrants.
The bill is not expected to come up for a vote in the Senate, which is closely controlled by Biden’s Democratic colleagues.
The legislation would impose sanctions on people involved in ICC proceedings against Americans or citizens of U.S. allies that are not members of the ICC, including Israel.
It would also block such ICC officials from entering the United States, revoke any U.S. visas, and restrict them from U.S. property transactions.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said last month – after more than seven months of war in Gaza – that he had reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s defense chief and three Hamas leaders “bear criminal responsibility” for alleged crimes and war crimes. against humanity.
Netanyahu said the ICC prosecutor’s decision was absurd and that the measure was aimed at targeting all of Israel.
Israel launched an air and ground offensive in Gaza last October, vowing to destroy Hamas after militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli records. Around 120 hostages remain in Gaza.
The Israeli military campaign has killed more than 36,000 people in densely populated Gaza, according to health authorities, who say thousands more bodies are buried under the rubble.
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