The Republican-dominated US House of Representatives has approved legislation , which provides for sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) because of its prosecutor's decision to request the arrest of Israeli ministers because of the war in the Gaza Strip, reported Reuters and BTA.
The text passed in the lower house of Congress with 247 votes "for" to 155 "no", with 42 Democratic representatives supporting the measure proposed by the Republicans. Among Republicans, none voted against, but two abstained.
The law is not expected to take effect. However, it reflects continued support for Israel in Congress despite growing international criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, Reuters notes.
The text is not expected to be sent for a vote in the Senate, dominated by President Joe Biden's Democratic Party, although the White House last month criticized the ICC's decision on the requested arrests.
The legislation, voted symbolically by the House of Representatives, provides sanctions for people involved in prosecutions of Americans or citizens of allied countries that are not members of the ICC, including Israel. It would also prohibit ICC officials from entering the US and conducting property transactions in the country.
Last month, seven months after the start of the war in Gaza, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said there were reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant and three leaders of “Hamas” “are criminally liable“ for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Netanyahu said the decision was absurd and that the move was directed entirely against Israel.
The country launched a massive air and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, vowing to destroy the Palestinian Islamist group “Hamas” after its attack in southern Israel on October 7, in which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 kidnapped, according to Israel. About 120 hostages still remain in Gaza.
The Israeli military campaign has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians in the densely populated Palestinian Territory, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, which claims thousands of bodies remain buried under the rubble.