House Republicans drafting ICC sanctions bill to protect 'Israel'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
8 May 2024 05:43
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Axios reports that Republicans are drafting a "precautionary" sanctions bill against the ICC if the court decides to issue arrest warrants against Israeli officials over war crimes in Gaza.

Demonstrators carry banners outside the International Criminal Court, urging the court to prosecute the Israeli occupation army for war crimes in Palestine, in the Netherlands, Friday, November 29, 2019. (AP)

House Republicans are drafting a bill aimed at imposing sanctions on officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a "precaution" in response to the possibility of arrest warrants being issued for Israeli officials over war crimes in Gaza, according to information obtained by Axios.

In recent weeks, Israeli authorities have become more anxious, since reportedly the names of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Security Minister Yoav Gallant, and Israeli Army chief Herzi Halevi have been circled as suspects of war crimes that the ICC will look to prosecute and issue arrest warrants against.

Bipartisan Congress members have warned the court that it will face consequences from the United States if it moves forward with the process.

Michael McCaul, the Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee from Texas, has verified that the legislation is being developed and stated to Axios that he and other Republican lawmakers have been communicating with Karim Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

Khan received a stern warning from US senators last week, threatening him and "his institution" with "severe sanctions" if arrest warrants were issued against Israeli officials.

'Target Israel and we will target you'

In a letter obtained by Zeteo and signed by 12 Republican senators led by Tom Cotton of Arkansas, the ICC official was warned that any attempt to hold Netanyahu and his government officials accountable for their war crimes in Gaza would be interpreted as "not only as a threat to Israel's sovereignty but to the sovereignty of the United States."

"Target Israel and we will target you,” 12 Republican senators threatened in a letter seen by Zeteo, citing sanctions on Khan's employees and his associates, adding that they and their families would be "barred from the United States."

McCaul told Axios, "We want to emphasize to him that going down this road of arrest warrants is a really bad idea and it's going to blow up the relationship."

"We're not sure if the arrest warrants are imminent, but it's sort of a precaution to let them know that, if they do, we have this legislation ready to go. It won't be put on the floor unless we have to."

McCaul mentioned that the bill would serve as a counterpart in the House to the legislation proposed by Cotton in February. Cotton's bill aims to impose sanctions on ICC officials engaged in investigations of US allies who are not members of the ICC, such as the occupation entity.

According to the news site, a group of senators from both parties conducted a virtual meeting with officials from the court last week to voice their worries regarding the potential issuance of arrest warrants.

Meanwhile, Khan said last week that his office "seeks to engage constructively with all stakeholders whenever such dialogue is consistent with its mandate ... to act independently and impartially."

"That independence and impartiality are undermined, however, when individuals threaten to retaliate against the Court or against Court personnel," he said in a statement last Friday.

"The Office insists that all attempts to impede, intimidate or improperly influence its officials cease immediately."