US Senate Blocks Bill to Sanction ICC Over Israeli Arrest Warrants

The U.S. Senate has rejected a bill aimed at imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) following its issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The warrants were issued for alleged war crimes committed during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

On Tuesday, the bill garnered 54 votes in favor, with 45 votes against. However, it fell short of the required 60 votes needed to move forward to a final vote. The proposal, which sought to penalize the ICC for its actions, faced significant opposition, with many Democrats expressing concerns over the implications of sanctioning an international legal institution.

The ICC’s arrest warrants, which also targeted Hamas commander Mohammed Deif for his involvement in the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, have sparked intense debate. While some Democratic senators condemned the warrants as biased against Israel, others criticized the bill for being poorly drafted and potentially harmful to U.S. allies and businesses engaging with the ICC.

Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, voiced support for the bill’s intent but urged for revisions to ensure it did not inadvertently harm U.S. interests. Schumer emphasized the need for the bill to undergo further negotiation to address concerns raised by both sides.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, defended the bill, arguing that the ICC’s actions against Israel could set a dangerous precedent for future targeting of U.S. citizens and military personnel. Thune called the targeting of Israel a matter of concern for all U.S. allies, suggesting that the ICC could eventually focus on Americans.

The bill had the backing of Senator John Fetterman, the only Democrat to vote in favor. He received praise from pro-Israel groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) for his stance against what they called the ICC’s “baseless attacks” on Israel.

This issue is not the first time the U.S. has clashed with the ICC. Under former President Donald Trump, the U.S. imposed sanctions on ICC officials in 2020 over the court’s investigation into possible war crimes committed by U.S. military forces abroad. After Joe Biden took office, those sanctions were lifted, but Trump reinstated them after returning to the White House earlier this month.