The US Senate has blocked a bill aimed at imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The proposed legislation, which required 60 votes to advance, fell short on Tuesday, with 54 votes in favor and 45 against. While many Democrats opposed the bill, some still criticized the ICC for what they perceived as an unjust focus on Israel.
In May, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza, including the use of starvation as a weapon. A warrant was also issued for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif in connection with the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
The bill faced significant criticism from international legal experts, former ICC officials, and European diplomats, who warned that it could set a dangerous precedent and harm global accountability efforts.
Although Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer voted against the bill, he expressed support for addressing the ICC’s actions against Israel, but criticized the legislation’s drafting as “poorly written” and potentially harmful to US allies and businesses involved with the court.
Senator John Thune, the Senate Minority Whip, defended the bill, arguing that the ICC’s actions against Israel could eventually target the US. “While the ICC is targeting Israelis today, it could easily set its sights on Americans,” Thune warned.
Senator John Fetterman was the only Democrat to vote in favor, a decision that was praised by the pro-Israel lobbying group, AIPAC.
The push to sanction the ICC echoes former President Donald Trump’s 2020 decision to impose sanctions on ICC officials over the court’s investigations into US military actions abroad. While the Biden administration revoked those sanctions, Trump reversed that decision when he took office again last week, although the reimposition remains symbolic for now.
