US Congress threatens ICC with sanctions

House Republicans reportedly approved a bill that would impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court after its top prosecutor called for the arrest of leaders of Israel and Hamas in connection with the Gaza conflict. It is reported that efforts are being made to formulate this.

Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has arrested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri in the Gaza Strip. and of "war crimes and crimes against humanity" in the Gaza Strip. Israel.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, criticized the ICC's move as "shameful" and "lawless."

"If the Biden administration does not object, the ICC will gain unprecedented powers to issue arrest warrants for U.S. political leaders, U.S. diplomats, and U.S. military personnel," Johnson said on Monday. "There is a possibility," he said, urging the White House to use all available tools. Please stop such abhorrent acts. ”

Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Axios on Monday that there is already a court sanctions bill based on a February 2023 bill introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas. He said he was being drafted. Cotton sent a letter to Khan earlier this month reminding the ICC prosecutor that the United States has laws that allow it to take "all necessary and appropriate measures" to protect American persons or allies from the court's requests. He was one of the people who sent a letter reminding him. The 2002 law was called the “Hague Invasion Law.”