Incoming Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune warned Sunday, Nov. 17, that the U.S. could impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court if it issues war crimes arrest warrants against Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The controversy adds to a growing divide over the ICC’s actions, which some U.S. lawmakers have condemned as politically motivated.
The ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has asked the court to approve warrants alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders, two of whom have been killed in recent months.
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Israel rejected the allegations, calling them antisemitic and akin to historical blood libels.
Thune vowed that if the court moves forward, Senate Republicans will prioritize sanctions legislation similar to the bill passed by the Republican-led House in June.
That bill would bar ICC officials involved in the prosecution from entering the U.S. and impose financial restrictions.
Thune wrote on X,“If Majority Leader Schumer does not act, the Senate Republican majority will stand with our key ally Israel and make this – and other supportive legislation – a top priority in the next Congress.”
The ICC’s actions have drawn bipartisan criticism, with some Democrats joining Republicans in denouncing the court’s investigations. Still, President Joe Biden has opposed reinstating the sanctions that former President Donald Trump enacted in 2020 and that Biden later lifted in 2021.
Further complicating the ICC’s position are sexual misconduct allegations against Khan, which are under external investigation. Khan has denied the accusations, claiming they are part of a misinformation campaign.
Israel has also raised concerns about potential bias within the ICC, questioning the impartiality of a judge on the panel reviewing the arrest requests. The court, based in The Hague, typically takes several months to rule on such matters but has no set timeline for a decision.
