ICC Sanctions Bill Prevented from Advancing in Senate

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats blocked the advancement of H.R. 23, a bill that would impose sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials and other entities that support its decision to put out arrest warrants for Israeli leaders based on the war in Gaza.

In the spring, the Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in conjunction with an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. The warrants charge the Israelis with the crime of using starvation as a weapon in the Gaza Strip. Israel has conducted military action against Hamas in Gaza following the October 7th, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, where an estimated 1,200 people were killed and 250 hostages were taken.

The warrants mean that, in countries that are parties to the ICC’s founding charter (such as Australia and Canada), anyone with a warrant could be arrested if they step on ICC country territory. 

The warrants have been decried by Israel as “absurd and antisemitic.” They’ve claimed that the equivalency between Hamas terrorists and the actions of a democratic country such as Israel is shameful. This a view shared by many in the GOP, who introduced the sanctions bill.

On Tuesday, the vote was over advancing the bill, which according to Senate Rule XXII, needs a 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster. All Republicans and one Democrat (John Fetterman) voted for the bill, but the final tally was 54-45, and the bill did not advance.

Anonymous Contributor