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A group of House Democrats is asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) to lift the arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defense minister while Congress is in session. willing to legislate sanctions on the actions of the global court.
Representatives Eugene Vindman (D-Virg.) and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) co-authored a letter sent to Päivi Kaukoranta, president of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC, arguing for arrest warrants for officials of a democratic country. “It diverts attention and resources from the prosecution of genuine war criminals.”
In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants against the commander of the military wing of Hamas, Mohammed Deif, for the terrorist attack against Israel committed on October 7, but also against the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant for the war crimes committed during the subsequent war against Hamas in Gaza. pull
Israel’s supporters in Washington argue that the ICC has no jurisdiction over Israel because it is not a signatory to the treaty establishing the ICC and that, as a democracy, it has the ability to investigate and hold perpetrators of crimes committed during the war
“Israel is a democracy governed by the rule of law, with an independent judiciary capable of addressing allegations of misconduct,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Issuing arrest warrants against leaders of a democratic nation defending itself against Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for heinous war crimes, sets a dangerous precedent that emboldens bad actors and delegitimizes the Court.”
The letter was signed by 40 other House Democrats, criticizing the court’s decision for eroding confidence in the international justice system and, in turn, undermining efforts to build a global consensus to hold Russia accountable for atrocities in Ukraine In March 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin and a senior Russian official for the war crime of abducting Ukrainian children.
The letter came as 45 Democrats voted with 198 Republicans in the House to pass legislation that would require sanctions on ICC officials or entities related to the court to investigate or arrest warrants against US officials or officials from allied countries such as Israel
While Schneider voted for the legislation, Vindman voted against it. The Virginia Democrat previously served as a war crimes investigator in Ukraine and is a recognized expert on international criminal law.
In a statement, Vindman said the court’s investigation into Israel “undermines the principles of justice and threatens to politicize the court’s critical mission to prosecute the world’s most serious crimes.”
While it remains unclear whether the Senate can pass the 60-vote threshold to pass the bill in the upper chamber, President-elect Trump is likely open to sanctioning the ICC, after imposing sanctions on officials of the court during its first term. .
