US House of Representatives passes bill that would sanction ICC over possible Netanyahu arrest warrant application News
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US House of Representatives passes bill that would sanction ICC over possible Netanyahu arrest warrant application

The US House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it issues an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

H.R. 8282, or the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, will impose sanctions for “any effort to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any protected person of the United States and its allies.”

Sanctions include the power to “block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of any foreign person,” as granted to the president under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as well as revocation of visas for those who aid in the investigation or arrest any protected person of the US.

ICC Prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan applied for arrest warrants against Netanyahu Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as senior Hamas leaders, in May for crimes against humanity committed during the Israel-Hamas War from October 2023. The alleged war crimes include starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, willfully causing great suffering or serious injury, wilful killing, intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population as a war crime, extermination or murder as a crime against humanity, persecution as a crime against humanity, and other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity.

Khan claims these occurred through a total siege over Gaza, where the three border crossing points, Rafah, Kerem Shalom, and Erez were closed for lengthy periods beginning October 8, 2023. Essential items, like food and medicine, were also restricted through these crossing points, even when they were re-opened. Water and electricity pipelines were also cut off from October 9, 2023. Workers providing aid from nonprofit organizations were also killed, causing them to halt aid going to Gaza.

US politicians including President Joe Biden have decried the ICC prosecutor’s decision, which they condemned for its “equivalence” of Israel and Hamas, the latter of which is a US-designated terrorist organization.

The Senate needs to pass this bill in order to become law, which the US House considered “unfinished business.” Further proceedings will be postponed.

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