Senator John Thune from South Dakota threatened to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it does not withdraw its request for an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Thune, who is set to become Senate Majority Leader in January 2025, stated that if Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer doesn’t take action, he and the Republican majority will prioritize legislation supporting Israel, including sanctions against the ICC.
In May, the ICC sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes linked to the October 7, 2023, attacks. The U.S. does not recognize the ICC’s authority, and Thune’s comments align with a bill by Senator Tom Cotton that seeks sanctions against ICC prosecutors targeting U.S. or allied citizens.
This is not the first time the U.S. has opposed the ICC. In 2020, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on ICC prosecutors investigating alleged U.S. war crimes. These sanctions caused significant concerns about the ICC’s operations, particularly its ability to secure cooperation from service providers and international lawyers.
While some, like Richard Goldberg, argue that individual sanctions may not stop the ICC, he suggests broader measures, such as cutting off the court’s funding, could have a more significant impact. The decision on the arrest warrant for Netanyahu could be made in the coming months, though the timeline is unclear.