U.S. House to Vote on Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, Sanctioning ICC Over Netanyahu and Gallant Arrest Warrants

Jan 9, 2025, 12:35 PM

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on legislation to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to its issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The bill, known as the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, was reintroduced by Representatives Chip Roy and Brian Mast, both Republicans. The legislation aims to sanction any foreign person involved in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute U.S. citizens or allies, including Israel. House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced that the vote will occur this week, emphasizing that the ICC has no jurisdiction over Israel or the United States. The Senate, led by Majority Leader John Thune, is also preparing to consider similar legislation, with Senator Tom Cotton expected to reintroduce the bill in the upper chamber. The move follows the ICC's unprecedented action in November, when it sought arrests for Western-allied officials, prompting criticism from U.S. lawmakers and President Joe Biden, who called the warrants 'outrageous.' The ICC's warrants were based on allegations of using starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity. Netanyahu fired Gallant shortly after the U.S. presidential election, and the three Hamas leaders named in the warrants were killed in the past year. The legislation, which previously received support from 42 Democrats, is expected to be a priority before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.