US Congress threatens ICC over Israel arrest warrants

Republican and Democrat US lawmakers alike have called for retaliating against the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it issues arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over their roles in alleged war crimes against the Palestinians.

Responding to media reports this week that the Hague-based tribunal will soon post warrants for the arrests of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, members of Congress have issued statements warning of consequences for any such step. US Representative Brad Sherman (D-California) is among those insisting that Washington would retaliate for any attempt to arrest Israeli leaders during their ongoing war with Hamas.

“The ICC apparently considers warrants on Israeli leaders for legitimate self-defense,” the 14-term congressman said. Sherman argued that such a move would turn the tribunal into a “kangaroo court,” adding, “President [Joe Biden] must condemn this, and I know Congress will ensure consequences for such an absurd decision.”

The potential arrest warrants are connected to the ICC’s investigation of alleged atrocities by the Israeli military and Palestinian militant groups dating back to 2014. Axios reported on Monday that Netanyahu had asked Biden to stop the ICC from trying to prosecute him or other officials in his government.

Israel and Hamas fought a month-long war in 2014. Their latest conflict began in October, when Hamas fighters launched surprise attacks against southern Israeli villages, killing more than 1,100 people and taking hundreds of hostages back to Gaza. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed since then. The UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a ruling in January saying it was “plausible” that Israeli forces had committed acts of genocide in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Like Sherman, Representative Ritchie Torres (D-New York) has insisted that both Congress and Biden must respond with “strong consequences” if the ICC issues warrants for the Israelis. “The weaponization of law – in the service of terror – cannot be allowed to stand,” he said.

Republicans have issued similar statements. “The ICC is propping up Hamas by attempting to punish the only democracy in the Middle East just for defending itself against barbaric terrorism,” said Representative Elise Stefanik (R-New York). 

Senator John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) said seeking to prosecute Israeli leaders “would be a fatal blow to the judicial and moral standing of the ICC.” He called on Biden to intervene.

The Biden administration on Monday accused Israeli military units of human rights violations for the first time. The incidents in question occurred before the latest war with Hamas, and the administration has no plans to impose sanctions or restrict military aid to Israel.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) insisted that the ICC has no jurisdiction over Israel. He called the possible warrants “baseless and illegitimate,” adding that they would undermine US national security. 

Although West Jerusalem is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, arrest warrants might deter Israeli leaders from traveling to any of the 124 countries that recognize the court’s authority.