Biden administration opposes GOP bill to sanction ICC
After U.S. Republicans introduced a bill to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Biden administration signaled its opposition to such sanctions.
When asked about the proposed sanctions during a White House press briefing on Tuesday, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby responded: “We don't believe that sanctions against the ICC is the right approach.”
The bill, introduced by Republican congressmen, aims to reimpose sanctions on the ICC that were initially implemented by former U.S. President Donald Trump but later revoked by President Joe Biden.
The proposed legislation seeks to “impose sanctions with respect to the International Criminal Court engaged in any effort to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any protected person of the United States and its allies.”
While not specifically mentioning Israel, the proposed sanctions have drawn greater attention in light of the recent ICC decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Several prominent officials within the Biden administration openly criticized the ICC’s decision, including Biden himself.
“Let me be clear, whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas,” Biden said of ICC chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, who decided to seek the arrest warrants.
In an official statement released by the State Department, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “The United States has been clear since well before the current conflict that that ICC has no jurisdiction over this matter.”
Despite opposing the proposed sanctions against the ICC, Kirby stated the Biden administration also rebuked calls to sanction Israel.
“We have no plans for these kinds of actions,” he said.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
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