Thune vows sanctions if ICC targets Netanyahu, Israeli officials

Nov 18, 2024

Lauren Taylor Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Reporter), Alex Delia (Producer), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)

Incoming Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune warned Sunday, Nov. 17, that the U.S. could impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court if it issues war crimes arrest warrants against Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The controversy adds to a growing divide over the ICC’s actions, which some U.S. lawmakers have condemned as politically motivated.

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The ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has asked the court to approve warrants alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders, two of whom have been killed in recent months.

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Israel rejected the allegations, calling them antisemitic and akin to historical blood libels.

Thune vowed that if the court moves forward, Senate Republicans will prioritize sanctions legislation similar to the bill passed by the Republican-led House in June.

That bill would bar ICC officials involved in the prosecution from entering the U.S. and impose financial restrictions.

Thune wrote on X,“If Majority Leader Schumer does not act, the Senate Republican majority will stand with our key ally Israel and make this – and other supportive legislation – a top priority in the next Congress.”

The ICC’s actions have drawn bipartisan criticism, with some Democrats joining Republicans in denouncing the court’s investigations. Still, President Joe Biden has opposed reinstating the sanctions that former President Donald Trump enacted in 2020 and that Biden later lifted in 2021.

Further complicating the ICC’s position are sexual misconduct allegations against Khan, which are under external investigation. Khan has denied the accusations, claiming they are part of a misinformation campaign.

Israel has also raised concerns about potential bias within the ICC, questioning the impartiality of a judge on the panel reviewing the arrest requests. The court, based in The Hague, typically takes several months to rule on such matters but has no set timeline for a decision.

Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu, Gaza, Hamas, International Criminal Court, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, War

[Lauren Taylor]

THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT IS FACING SIGNIFICANT BACKLASH FROM U-S LAWMAKERS OVER ITS POTENTIAL WAR CRIMES CHARGES AGAINST TOP ISRAELI LEADERS, INCLUDING PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. AS TENSIONS RISE, THE INCOMING SENATE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY LEADER JOHN THUNE IS THREATENING SWIFT ACTION.

THUNE ISSUED A STARK WARNING TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT… THREATENING U-S SANCTIONS IF THE I-C-C PROCEEDS WITH ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST ISRAELI OFFICIALS FOR ALLEGED WAR CRIMES DURING THE ONGOING CONFLICT IN GAZA.

THE I-C-C’S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, KARIM KHAN, REQUESTED THESE WARRANTS, NAMING ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER YOAV GALLANT, AND THREE HAMAS LEADERS WHOM HAVE SINCE BEEN KILLED. KHAN ALLEGES WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY WERE COMMITTED DURING THE CONFLICT.

KHAN HIMSELF IS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS CREDIBILITY AND PROMPTING CALLS FROM SOME U-S LAWMAKERS TO DELAY ANY ICC ACTION UNTIL THE ALLEGATIONS ARE RESOLVED. KHAN DENIES THE ACCUSATIONS, LABELING THEM PART OF A MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN.

THE I-C-C’S PURSUIT OF ISRAELI OFFICIALS HAS LONG BEEN A SOURCE OF CONTENTION BETWEEN THE U-S AND THE COURT. IN 2020, PRESIDENT TRUMP IMPOSED SANCTIONS ON I-C-C OFFICIALS FOR TARGETING ISRAEL. PRESIDENT BIDEN LATER LIFTED THOSE SANCTIONS, BUT THE REPUBLICAN-LED HOUSE PASSED LEGISLATION IN JUNE TO REINSTATE THEM.

THUNE, ALONG WITH OTHER REPUBLICAN SENATORS, IS URGING THE CURRENT SENATE LEADERSHIP TO ACT NOW. IN A RECENT POST ON X, HE SAYS IF DEMOCRATS, LED BY SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER, FAIL TO BRING THE SANCTIONS BILL TO A VOTE, REPUBLICANS WILL PRIORITIZE IT WHEN THEY TAKE CONTROL OF CONGRESS IN JANUARY.

SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS STRESSED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL, CALLING THE ICC’S ACTIONS “UNLAWFUL.” MEANWHILE, HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON CRITICIZED SCHUMER FOR DELAYING ACTION, EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR UNITY IN STANDING WITH ISRAEL.

AS THE DEBATE CONTINUES, ISRAEL HAS DISMISSED THE I-C-C CHARGES AS ANTISEMITIC, FILING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE IMPARTIALITY OF A JUDGE INVOLVED IN THE CASE. MEANWHILE, THE I-C-C PANEL REVIEWING THESE WARRANTS HAS NO SET DEADLINE BUT TYPICALLY TAKES ABOUT THREE MONTHS TO DECIDE.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.

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