Staff Reports
The International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor announced on Monday that he plans to file arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, due to their ties to the October 7 attack launched by Hamas. In response, Republican lawmakers introduced a bill called the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, which has gained 62 co-sponsors, all of whom are Republicans.
'International Organization With No Real Legitimacy': Support for Chip Roy's Bill Sanctioning ICC Grows
https://t.co/Pc59VRHQf2— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 23, 2024
During a speech on the House floor, Rep. Chip Roy criticized the ICC’s actions, expressing concerns about the organization’s focus on attacking “everything that is great and good with Western civilization.” Roy emphasized the importance of supporting Israel and denounced the ICC’s attempts to constrain Israel’s actions while addressing threats to the United States’ sovereignty and domestic welfare.
The bill currently only has Republican co-sponsors, as Democrats seem to be divided on the ICC’s arrest warrants. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ilhan Omar have publicly supported the ICC’s actions, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed her support for the court’s independence in making the decision.
There are concerns about the ICC’s jurisdiction and its impact on U.S. support for Israel. President Joe Biden denounced the ICC’s move as “outrageous,” but many Democrats have been hesitant to take a clear stance on the issue. The divide among Democrats reflects their struggle to balance supporting Israel and appeasing the far-left base of the party, particularly during a challenging election year for Biden.
Additionally, the United Nations’ actions have come under scrutiny, with U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, ignoring questions about the ICC’s arrest warrants. The broader concern among conservatives is the lack of support for Israel and the potential implications on U.S. sovereignty and foreign policy.
