New House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast, R-Fla., is poised to bring legislation this week that would sanction the International Criminal Court over arrest warrants it issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year.
The Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, H.R. 23, introduced Friday by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, could get a vote on the House floor as early as Thursday, The Hill reported.
A congressional aide told The Hill that the measure has the support of every Republican in the House, and a similar measure last year garnered support from 42 Democrats.
Then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., sat on the bill. Now, Republicans own a three-seat majority in the upper chamber.
"With a new Congress, we're bringing it up early to send a strong message that the America Last foreign policy of the Biden era is over," the aide told The Hill. "This is just an opening act."
The measure would sanction any person working with the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute American citizens or an official from a U.S.-allied country, including Israel. In addition, H.R. 23 would rescind funds designated to the ICC by the U.S. and prohibit future funding.
If applied, ICC officials will have their visas revoked and will face deportation from the United States, and no further visas will be issued to them or their family members.
"America doesn't recognize the International Criminal Court, but the court sure as hell will recognize what happens when you target our allies," Mast posted on X in May.
Neither the U.S. nor Israel recognize the ICC, but the Palestinians do.
"Our bill sends a clear message to the International Criminal Court. We may not recognize you, but you sure as hell will recognize what happens when you target America or its allies," Mast said in a press release. "The ICC's attempt to obstruct Israel's right to defend itself has only prolonged the war and prevented the release of American hostages by boosting Hamas' morale."
The ICC issued the warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza. Israel appealed the ICC's decision in December, claiming the ICC's lack of jurisdiction.
This story has been updated.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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