US House passes sanctions bill in response to ICC warrant for Netanyahu

United States lawmakers passed a law to punish the International Criminal Court (ICC) for trying to arrest top Israeli officials for war crimes in Gaza. The House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, voted 247-155 for the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act. This law would stop ICC officials from entering the US and limit their property transactions in the country. The vote shows strong support for Israel among most US lawmakers. The US President, Joe Biden, is worried about the arrest warrants for Israeli leaders but does not agree with punishing the ICC. He thinks it's too extreme. The final decision on the law is not clear yet, as it needs more steps to be enforced. The White House might veto the law because of Biden's opposition. The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, believes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders are responsible for war crimes. Netanyahu called the decision absurd and said it was an attack on Israel. Even though the US law is not likely to pass, it shows unwavering support for Israel despite international criticism over the Gaza conflict. The House's decision to sanction the ICC came after the prosecutor requested arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders. This move united both Republicans and Democrats in Congress against the ICC. The State Department disagrees with the sanctions, saying they are not appropriate at this time. The proposed law would impose strict penalties on ICC officials and judges, affecting their families too. Democrats think the law is too harsh and could harm Americans and US companies working with the court. Some Democrats may not attend the discussion on this issue. The ICC prosecutor's accusations against Israeli and Hamas leaders have sparked a strong reaction in Congress, with many lawmakers speaking out against the ICC's actions.