In a decisive move against the International Criminal Court (ICC), the House of Representatives passed legislation on Thursday imposing sanctions on the court. This action comes as a direct response to the ICC's issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The bill garnered substantial bipartisan support, with a vote of 243-140, including 45 Democrats joining the Republican majority.

The legislation now moves to the Senate, where a swift vote is anticipated, thanks to a commitment from Republican Majority Leader John Thune. The goal is to have the bill ready for President-elect Donald Trump's signature upon his inauguration.

Despite the broad support, the bill's prioritization in the new congressional session was questioned by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), known for his independent stance on Israel-related matters. Massie, the sole Republican to vote "present," expressed his concerns on social media, questioning the urgency of the legislation and highlighting his skepticism towards the ICC's authority.

The ICC's pursuit of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, stems from a request made by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan on May 20th. This request marked an unprecedented move by the court, targeting Western-allied officials for the first time. The warrants were subsequently granted in November, accusing Netanyahu and Gallant of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including using starvation as a method of warfare, murder, and persecution. The ICC also found reasonable grounds to believe they were responsible for intentionally directing attacks against civilians.

The bill, reintroduced by Reps. Chip Roy and Brian Mast (R-Texas), aims to sanction any foreign individual involved in investigating, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting U.S. citizens or those of allied nations. This protection extends to the 32 NATO members and 19 other key non-NATO allies, including Israel. The legislation would also reclaim any U.S. funds allocated to the ICC and prohibit future financial contributions.

Proponents of the bill argue that the ICC's actions undermine Israel's right to self-defense and have emboldened Hamas, hindering the release of American hostages. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate. While the House passed similar legislation in the previous Congress, it was not brought to a vote in the Senate under then-Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. With the shift in Senate control, Majority Leader Thune is determined to expedite the bill's passage and ensure it reaches the president's desk promptly.