The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to its arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over their involvement in Israel’s Gaza campaign.
The vote passed with a 243-140 majority in favor of the “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act,” which would sanction foreign individuals who investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute U.S. citizens or nationals from allied countries, including Israel, who are not members of the ICC.
Forty-five Democrats joined 198 Republicans in supporting the bill, while no Republican opposed it. Representative Brian Mast, Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called the court a “kangaroo court” seeking to arrest Israel’s prime minister, emphasizing the strong U.S. backing for Israel.
This vote highlights the continued support for Israel within the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, particularly as President-elect Donald Trump’s allies assert their position in Congress.
The ICC did not immediately comment on the vote. The Trump administration previously imposed sanctions on the ICC in 2020, in response to investigations into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. These sanctions were lifted by the Biden administration, but Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated in May 2024 that the U.S. may consider re-imposing sanctions over the ICC’s pursuit of arrest warrants for Israeli leaders.
The newly passed sanctions also target individuals who assist the ICC in its work. ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane warned in December that such sanctions could undermine the court’s operations and jeopardize its existence.
Trump, who is set to begin his second term on January 20, is expected to sign the sanctions bill into law, with Senate Republican leader John Thune promising swift consideration of the measure in his chamber.
The ICC, which prosecutes war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression, has defended its actions, stating that the arrest warrants were issued based on a thorough investigation and sufficient evidence. The court’s decision to pursue the warrants has sparked backlash from Republicans, who accuse the Israeli officials of war crimes in the ongoing Gaza conflict, which Israel denies.
