White House opposes sanctions over ICC's Israeli officials warrant requests

The White House did not support sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) when the ICC requested arrest warrants for Israeli officials accused of "war crimes" while fighting Hamas in Gaza. The Biden administration believes the ICC does not have jurisdiction in this case and disagrees with the arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. Despite objections, the White House does not think sanctions against the ICC are the solution. The House and Senate are discussing how to respond to the ICC. A bipartisan group suggested visa bans for ICC officials and sanctions on the organization. Some lawmakers introduced measures to impose sanctions on the ICC if it targets U.S. allies like Israel. The White House's decision not to impose sanctions leaves uncertainty about the U.S.'s response to the ICC. The ICC's chief prosecutor sought arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, leading to concerns about attempts to influence the court officials. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu closely monitored intelligence operations against the ICC. Allegations of war crimes against Israeli leaders stem from the conflict in Gaza, prompting Israel to defend itself against potential prosecutions in The Hague. Israel reportedly conducted covert operations against the ICC prosecutor and monitored communications to gather information. The surveillance was seen as necessary to protect Israel's interests. Meetings between Israel and the ICC were kept secret to maintain Israel's stance of not recognizing the court's authority. The Trump administration was viewed as more cooperative than the previous administration in dealing with the ICC. The ICC prosecutor faced pressure, including from the United States, regarding potential arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. The situation remains tense and uncertain.