Washington, D.C. (Agencies): On the day the US honors former President Jimmy Carter, a key figure in the creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the US House of Representatives passed an AIPAC-backed bill to sanction the ICC. The bill, known as the ‘Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act,’ passed in a 243-140 vote and imposes sanctions on the ICC and key figures within it over its arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The bill was introduced last Friday as soon as the 119th Congress began. It imposes sanctions on those who aid efforts by the ICC to prosecute Americans or Israelis. The ICC issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.
US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib criticized the vote, questioning the priorities of the new Congress. Representative Jim McGovern also criticized Republicans for prioritizing the sanctioning of the ICC amid the wildfires in California.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune pledged to bring the legislation to the Senate floor. The Israeli army has continued its operations in the Gaza Strip, resulting in significant casualties despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire