A bipartisan group of lawmakers have reportedly accused the court of “abuse of power” and threatening American interests
US senators have called for punitive action against the International Criminal Court (ICC) after its chief prosecutor sought arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders over the ongoing Gaza conflict, Fox News reported on Thursday.
Earlier this week, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of committing “war crimes and crimes against humanity” in the Palestinian enclave. He requested that the ICC issue warrants for their arrest, as well as the arrest of three Hamas leaders believed to be responsible for the October 7 attack, which sparked the latest escalation.
In response to the move, Republican and Democratic Senators Mike Rounds and Joe Manchin called for a resolution that, according to Fox News Digital, would urge President Joe Biden and Congress to “impose financial sanctions and visa bans on officials of the ICC for an abuse of power that threatens US interests and weakens US allies.”
The lawmakers said they expect the resolution to serve as a testament to the Senate’s resolve to stand with Israel and reject the ICC’s actions aimed against senior Israeli officials. They also suggested that the resolution would encourage Washington’s allies, many of whom are responsible for funding the ICC, to use their leverage to halt the politicized proceedings.
Rounds said the ICC’s actions were “unconscionable,” and criticized Khan for effectively comparing Hamas and Israel.
“Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization while Israel is a democracy and ally of the United States that works hard to uphold international law. This action by the ICC prosecutor draws an equivalency that is devoid of reality. I am proud to lead my colleagues in this resolution that tells the world that we stand with Israel,” he said in a statement.
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