The House of Representatives passed a resolution on Thursday that sanctioned the International Criminal Court for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his former Defense Minister over Israel’s Gaza campaign.
The “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act” was approved by 243 votes to 140 against. This would punish any foreigner that investigates, arrests, or detains U.S. or allied citizens, including Israel.
The bill was supported by 45 Democrats and 198 Republicans. The bill was passed by a vote of 198 Republicans.
In a speech to the House before the vote, Republican Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Representative Brian Mast said: “America passes this law because of a kangaroo court that is trying to arrest the Prime Minister of our great ally Israel.”
The House vote was one of the very first votes since the new Congress took office last week. It showed that the Republicans, including Donald Trump, are strongly in support of Israel’s government now that they have control over both chambers.
Trump will be inaugurated as President for a second time on January 20.
John Thune, the newly appointed Republican majority leader in the Senate, has promised to swiftly consider the act within his chamber so that Trump can sign it as law soon after taking office.
The ICC is a permanent tribunal that can prosecute people for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It also has the power to charge individuals with genocide, war crimes, or crimes of aggression committed in member countries by their citizens.
The court said that its decision to seek arrest warrants against Israeli officials was consistent with its overall approach. It was based on the assessment of the prosecutor, who determined that there was sufficient evidence to proceed.
Since the ICC issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his former Defense chief Yoav Galant, accusing both of war crimes and crimes Against Humanity in the 15-month Gaza conflict, Congressional Republicans have denounced the ICC. Israel denies the allegations.
The Republican-controlled House passed a bill in June seeking to sanction ICC, but it was never brought up by the Senate at that time, which was dominated by a Democratic majority.