US lawmakers pass bill to sanction ICC over Israel probe

The US House of Representatives adopted the bill calling for sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) after its prosecutor applied for an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Thursday.
According to the channel, the bill was approved by a majority of 247 members against 155 members of the House of Representatives.
According to the bill, international court officials involved in the arrest warrant including Prosecutor Karim Khan will be banned from entering the United States and their property in America will be confiscated.
Pertinent to mention here that the Hague-based court's prosecutor has said Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant should be arrested on charges relating to the war in Gaza, along with three leaders of militant group Hamas.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said last month he was seeking warrants for the two Israelis -- as well as Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Deif -- on suspicions of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The ICC's 124 member states will ultimately decide whether to enforce any warrants issued by its judges. Neither Israel nor the United states are members.
While the White House has criticized the ICC, and Biden called the application for arrest warrants "outrageous," US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last week that sanctions were not "the right approach."
Hostilities in Gaza broke out when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in 1,194 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official figures.
At least 36,550 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the conflict, according to data provided by the health ministry of Hamas-run Gaza.