US Senator Lindsey Graham has called for Washington to slap sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
On Thursday, The Hague-based body accused Netanyahu and Gallant of “crimes against humanity” allegedly committed during Israel’s conflict with the Palestinian armed group Hamas in Gaza. ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan also announced similar charges against Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif. The Israeli authorities claimed that Deif had been killed in an airstrike in July.
In a post on X later in the day, Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina who is an ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, wrote that the ICC “acted in the most absurd and irresponsible manner possible” by going after the Israeli politicians, “while there is a serious cloud of allegations hanging over the prosecutor who sought these warrants.”
He was referring to an external investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct by Khan, which the ICC announced last week.
The prosecutor said he would engage with the probe while continuing to carry out “all other functions.” He denied any wrongdoing.
"The Court is a dangerous joke. It is now time for the US Senate to act and sanction this irresponsible body,” Graham said.
According to the lawmaker, “[Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer needs to pass the bipartisan legislation that came from the House sanctioning the Court for such an outrage and [US President Joe] Biden needs to sign it.”
In June, the US House of Representatives, where the Republicans have a majority, voted in a bill restricting entry to the US and US-based property transactions for ICC officials involved with the prosecution of Netanyahu and Gallant. However, the Democrat-controlled Senate has not considered the measure. The Republicans will be in control of both the House and the Senate in early 2025 following the results of the November 5 election.
In another post, Graham announced that he will introduce legislation targeting countries that aid the ICC in its action against the Israeli prime minister and former defense minister.
"You can expect consequences from the US. Any nation that joins with the ICC after this outrage is a partner in a reckless act that tramples the rule of law,” he warned.
Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. However, Netanyahu and Gallant could be detained in any of 124 countries that recognize the court’s authority.
Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and Jordan are among the countries that have said they would comply with the ICC’s arrest warrants.