Washington, DC – The Democrats in the United States Senate have stopped the passage of the bill that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yuva Gilant have issued a warrant for arrest warrants for alleged war crimes in Gaza. CC will be approved.
The vote on Tuesday received 54 votes in favor of the bill and 45 opposed, which is less than 60 votes needed to move forward in the final vote.
The current and former presidents of the UN experts, European officials, and the ICC administrative agency have all come out against the bill, warning that when the growing importance to the international legal order, this is one of them. A dangerous view will be established.
But many Democrats who voted against the move still accuse the court of taking unfair action against Israel by issuing warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. The court simultaneously issued a warrant for Hamas commander Mohammad Daif on October 7, 2023, for his role in the attack against southern Israel.
The ICC has denied discrimination in its actions.
Speaking before the vote, Chak Schmer, the leader of the Democratic Party in the Republican -controlled Senate, said the sanctions bill “I support to a great extent and want to see a law becoming a law”.
“However, as much as I oppose the ICC’s prejudice against Israel, as much as I want to see that the organization has tremendous reforms and its new shape, the bill in front of us is drafted. Have deep troubles. ” Allies and businesses that deal with court.
He called on the Republican to return to the negotiating table to compromise the language in the legislature.
Talking to the Senate floor in support of the bill, John Thor, a majority of the Senate leader, a Republican, said that “we should all worry about the US ally”.
“Although the ICC is targeting Israelis today, it can easily look at the Americans,” he said.
Senator John Fatherman was the only Democrat to vote in favor of legislation. He rapidly praised Israeli supporters of Israeli lobby, the US Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
In a post on the social media platform X, the group thanked the fighter man for his “supportive leadership of Israel and standing with Israel against the ICC’s baseless attacks.”
In the past, President Donald Trump imposed a tough line against the ICC Sanctions In 2020, its officials are investigating that the court is investigating US military operations abroad.
Former President Joe Biden’s administration later canceled the order, but Trump changed the Biden’s decision to take office last week.
His move has been symbolic so far, as Altal has not automatically re -imagined sanctions.
‘Culture of exception’
Neither the United States nor the Israeli Rome law parties, who established the ICC.
However, the court has argued that, because alleged war crimes occur in Gaza, Israeli officials can be held responsible for their actions.
Palestine has been a member of the ICC since 2015.
The court also used a similar argument in issuing arrest warrants for Russian officials for alleged abuses in Ukraine, at which time the move was welcomed by US officials. Russia is not a party to the ICC, but Ukraine.
In issuing a warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant, the ICC prosecutors have argued that Israeli sanctions on Gaza’s aid, including water and medicine, are a violation of war as a method of war.
Both Israeli officials were also accused of crimes against humanity, including murder and persecution, as well as war crimes of attacks against civilians.
To date, the Israeli war in Gaza has killed 47,354 Palestinians, while displaced almost the entire population of the enclave. There has been a strong ceasefire since January 19.
The ICC also sought warrants for Hamas political leader Ismail Haniya and its senior leader Yahya Sunwar in Gaza, before the Israeli attacks killed both men.
Earlier this month, the United Nations experts Is called To reject the bill on the US Senate after being approved by Republican -controlled House of Representatives.
Experts said, “It is surprising to see a country that considers itself a champion of rule of law, trying to stop a free and neutral tribunal set up by the international community, so that Accountability can be thwarted. “
He added that threats to the ICC “promote the culture of immunity”.
In an article published by the Justice Security website on Monday, the current and former president of the Assembly of the International Criminal Court states, a court -administered organization warns that sanctions are at least 20 in the world. The investigation can make “severe obstacles”. .
“Although the challenges remain, we are bound by the vision of the ICC’s justice and its mandate to ensure that no one is above the law, regardless of force.” Is written.
“Attempts to weaken the ICC are attacks on the principle that the law protects the weak against the powerful.”
