US house votes to pass bill to sanction ICC over Israel

The US House of Representatives on January 9th passed its first major foreign policy bill of the 119th Congressional session, which would sanction officials at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for giving an arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Issued in November, the arrest warrant is for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Israel’s continuing attack on Gaza. At the time, the Biden administration did not hesitate to criticise the warrant, the Middle East Eye via Reuters reported. 

The house voted 243-140-1 for sanctioning anyone who is in connection with the ICC’s moves to investigate, detain, arrest or prosecute any “protected person” of the US and “its friends abroad” that are not party to the Roman Statute- the statute which established the court.

Middle East Eye via Reuters