The White House has refused to support proposed sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the court’s decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli officials on “war crimes” charges as Israel fights the terrorist group Hamas.
“We don’t believe that ICC sanctions are the right approach here,” National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby said at a White House briefing on Tuesday.
He reiterated that the Biden administration “does not believe the ICC has jurisdiction” and said it does not support arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant.
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President Joe Biden addresses the National Action Network convention remotely from the South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, Friday, April 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The ICC requested this warrant along with a similar warrant for Hamas leaders, both of whom have been accused by the ICC of committing “war crimes”.
Kirby said that while it opposes the ICC’s actions, the Biden administration does not believe “imposing sanctions on the ICC is the answer.”
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan (right).
The White House’s stance on potential sanctions comes at a time when both the House of Representatives and the Senate are developing policy proposals in response to the ICC.
Last week, a bipartisan group led by Senators Mike Rounds (D-SC) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) recommended banning visas for ICC officials and sanctioning the international organization, along with other Democrats including Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Bob Casey (D-PA).
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Senators Joe Manchin and Mike Rounds are leading a bipartisan group on a resolution to reject the ICC’s request for a warrant against Israel and to propose sanctions against the organization. (Getty Images)
The article introduced in the Senate also aimed to formally veto the ICC’s action.
In the House of Representatives, Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Brian Mast (R-Fla.) have introduced legislation that would require the president to impose sanctions on the ICC if it goes after U.S. allies, such as Israel, over which the ICC has no jurisdiction.
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Rep. Chip Roy is one of the lawmakers leading a bill to impose sanctions on the ICC following reports it may issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Getty Images)
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According to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, “My understanding is that discussions are ongoing between Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Greg Meeks with the goal of reaching a bipartisan agreement on an international criminal court.”
However, it is unclear whether the US will take any action in response to the ICC, as the White House has denied imposing sanctions.
Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
