(RepublicanPress.org) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a group that investigates and tries individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide — among others of international concern. Recently, the ICC announced its intent to issue arrest warrants for Hamas head Yahya Sinwar and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Some lawmakers in the US reacted strongly to the move.
On May 21, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to bring a bill to the floor that would sanction the ICC for going after Netanyahu. Schumer spoke out against the ICC’s arrest warrant pursuit the previous day, which the SC senator acknowledged on social media, agreeing with the majority leader.
Still, Graham said words weren’t enough to get their message across; it was time for “strong deeds.” He called for “crippling sanctions” to show support for Israel and to keep the group from going “against American personnel.”
The SC lawmaker followed up his post with a bipartisan letter the next day, signed by seven other senators. The letter stated that the ICC’s actions were making the situation worse in the Middle East, putting current negotiations regarding humanitarian aid and the release of hostages at risk. The senators also said the arrest warrants put Sinwar and Netanyahu on the same level when they aren’t.
They pointed out that Hamas is a terrorist group while Israel is a “functioning democracy.” Graham and the others vowed to continue working to “object to the ICC’s actions” and do what they can to protect Americans from the ICC and help Israel — America’s ally. The other signatories on the letter included Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jim Risch (R-ID), Katie Britt (R-AL), John Fetterman (D-PA), and John Thune (R-SD).
It’s unclear if Schumer will answer the senators’ call. During his remarks, the majority leader said the ICC’s prosecutor, Karim AA Khan’s decision was “reprehensible.”
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