US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has indicated his willingness to collaborate with lawmakers regarding potential sanctions against the International Criminal Court, as its prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials. Mr. Blinken expressed his commitment to addressing what he considers a profoundly misguided decision, amid a Republican push to impose sanctions on ICC officials, with a possible vote looming this week. While the United States is not a member of the court, it has previously supported prosecutions, including an ICC arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin related to the war in Ukraine. The broader resistance in Washington to the court’s decision was echoed by Mr. Blinken’s comments. At least two measures proposing sanctions on the ICC have been introduced in Congress, coinciding with the court’s intensifying inquiry into Israel’s actions during the Gaza conflict. Support for these measures appears to be consolidating around a bill introduced by Texas Republican Chip Roy, known as the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act. This bill aims to target ICC officials involved in the case by restricting their entry to the US, revoking any existing US visas, and prohibiting property transactions within the country unless the court halts its cases against “protected persons” of the US and its allies. Additionally, at least 37 lawmakers in the Republican-led House are co-sponsoring this legislation, including Elise Stefanik, the chamber’s third highest-ranking Republican. However, it remains uncertain whether Democratic lawmakers will support these efforts, as the party’s moderate and liberal factions have been grappling with President Biden’s Israel policy. Some left-wing Democrats have expressed support for the ICC’s actions, while others remain undecided. Despite the uncertain political landscape, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that administration officials were discussing potential next steps with lawmakers.
