US Republican leader warns of sanctions against ICC chief over Israel
Senator John Thune, who is on track to become the Senate majority leader, plans to take action against the international court for its investigations into Israel's conduct in Gaza. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Senator John Thune has stated that the court should either drop its case against Netanyahu or prepare for potential backlash from Washington.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) and its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, should face sanctions from the United States if they persist in their attempts to arrest Israeli leaders, Thune, who is set to become the Senate Majority Leader, remarked.
In May, Khan revealed his intentions to pursue charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, along with three Hamas leaders, for alleged “crimes against humanity” in Gaza.
“If the ICC and its prosecutor do not reverse their outrageous and unlawful actions to pursue arrest warrants against Israeli officials, the Senate should immediately pass sanctions legislation, as the House has already done on a bipartisan basis,” Thune stated on Monday evening.
Thune emphasized, “If Majority Leader [Chuck] 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.”
A Republican from South Dakota, Thune secured his position as Senate majority leader last week, despite criticism from supporters of President-elect Donald Trump who felt he was too aligned with the traditional establishment.
Currently, Senator Schumer, a Democrat from New York, leads the Senate, where his party holds a narrow majority. This dynamic is expected to change when the newly elected Republican senators take their seats in January.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives recently passed a measure aimed at revoking US visas and implementing financial penalties against any ICC officials pursuing legal action against US “allies.” The bill was approved with a vote of 247-155, with 42 Democrats voting in favor. President Joe Biden, however, expressed his strong opposition to the legislation.
Under a law enacted in 2002, the US president is empowered to use “all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any US or allied personnel being detained or imprisoned by, on behalf of, or at the request of” the ICC, commonly referred to as ‘The Hague Invasion Act’.
The ICC has yet to act on Khan’s request. Since that announcement, Israel has killed all three Hamas leaders involved, and Netanyahu dismissed Gallant last month.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
The International Criminal Court (ICC) and its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, should face sanctions from the United States if they persist in their attempts to arrest Israeli leaders, Thune, who is set to become the Senate Majority Leader, remarked.
In May, Khan revealed his intentions to pursue charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, along with three Hamas leaders, for alleged “crimes against humanity” in Gaza.
“If the ICC and its prosecutor do not reverse their outrageous and unlawful actions to pursue arrest warrants against Israeli officials, the Senate should immediately pass sanctions legislation, as the House has already done on a bipartisan basis,” Thune stated on Monday evening.
Thune emphasized, “If Majority Leader [Chuck] 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.”
A Republican from South Dakota, Thune secured his position as Senate majority leader last week, despite criticism from supporters of President-elect Donald Trump who felt he was too aligned with the traditional establishment.
Currently, Senator Schumer, a Democrat from New York, leads the Senate, where his party holds a narrow majority. This dynamic is expected to change when the newly elected Republican senators take their seats in January.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives recently passed a measure aimed at revoking US visas and implementing financial penalties against any ICC officials pursuing legal action against US “allies.” The bill was approved with a vote of 247-155, with 42 Democrats voting in favor. President Joe Biden, however, expressed his strong opposition to the legislation.
Under a law enacted in 2002, the US president is empowered to use “all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any US or allied personnel being detained or imprisoned by, on behalf of, or at the request of” the ICC, commonly referred to as ‘The Hague Invasion Act’.
The ICC has yet to act on Khan’s request. Since that announcement, Israel has killed all three Hamas leaders involved, and Netanyahu dismissed Gallant last month.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
