A contentious vote in the House of Representatives reveals deep partisan disagreement over sanctions against the International Criminal Court.
According to Daily Caller, the House passed legislation to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli leadership, with 140 House Democrats voting against the measure.
The Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, sponsored by Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy and 29 GOP co-sponsors, cleared the House with a 243-140 vote, while 50 lawmakers abstained. The bill aims to impose sanctions on the ICC for any attempts to issue arrest warrants against protected persons from the United States and its allies.
Rep. Chip Roy, expressing satisfaction with the bill's passage, emphasized the potential consequences of allowing the ICC to target Israel without check. Roy told the Daily Caller News Foundation that such actions could lead to future targeting of American service members and veterans.
The bill's passage marks its second attempt at becoming law, following a previous version that passed the House in June 2024 but failed to progress in the Senate under Chuck Schumer's leadership. The current iteration requires President-elect Donald Trump's signature and must clear the Senate's 60-vote threshold.
Republican Florida Rep. Brian Mast, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, supported the legislation by highlighting Israel's role in rescuing American hostages from Gaza. His advocacy underscored the strategic importance of protecting allies actively working to safeguard American interests.
Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress, voted against the bill, consistent with her previous criticisms of Netanyahu and her censured statements regarding Israel. The vote revealed a significant partisan split, with just 45 House Democrats supporting the legislation.
Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern, as ranking member of the House Rules Committee, led the opposition to the bill. McGovern criticized the Republican majority's legislative priorities, dismissing the bill as substandard.
The ICC's arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, issued last November, stemmed from their oversight of Israel's military response to Hamas's October 2023 attack. This decision prompted strong reactions from U.S. leadership.
President Biden's response to the ICC's actions was unequivocal. He stated:
Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.
Rep. Roy emphasized the ICC's jurisdictional overreach during the floor debate:
It has taken unprecedented action of issuing arrest warrants for the sitting prime minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] and former minister defense [Yoav Gallant] of our friend and ally Israel. This is an entity — the ICC — that has no jurisdiction over the people of the United States. It should have no authority over our people, no authority over the prime minister of Israel.
The Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act represents a significant legislative response to the ICC's actions against Israeli leadership. The bill, passed by the House with substantial Republican support and notable Democratic opposition, now faces Senate consideration where it must secure 60 votes for passage.
The legislation's fate will determine U.S. policy toward the ICC's authority over American and allied leadership, particularly in the context of ongoing conflicts and international justice considerations. The next steps involve Senate deliberation and potential presidential action, with implications for U.S.-Israel relations and international legal jurisdiction.
