US House of Representatives passes bill imposing sanctions on ICC

The bill, which was passed in the Republican-majority House of Representatives with 247 votes in favor and 155 against, provides for the imposition of sanctions on the ICC.

While it is notable that all Republican representatives voted in favor of the bill, along with 42 Democrats, those Democrats who voted against it emphasized that taking steps to sanction the ICC is a misguided approach.

The bill, which will be sent to the Senate where Democrats hold the majority, must be passed by the Senate and signed by US President Joe Biden in order to become law.

In his statements on the matter, Biden, who argues that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over Israel and Israeli politicians, had previously stated that imposing sanctions on the ICC would be wrong.

ARREST WARRANT APPLICATION FOR NETANYAHU

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan announced on May 20 that he had applied for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

According to the statement made by the ICC, Khan had applied for arrest warrants for Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas's leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar, and the leader of Hamas's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif, in addition to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

News Source: AA