The panel advanced the legislation, dubbed the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, on Monday in a vote of 9 in favor and 3 opposed.
On May 20, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan filed requests for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as for leaders of Palestinian organization Hamas.
The bill enables the imposition of sanctions on the ICC and any other foreign actor that supports their effort to arrest, detain or prosecute protected persons of the United States and its allies. The legislation's definition of a protected person includes foreign citizens or lawful residents of a US ally that has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.
“If the ICC insists on targeting Israel, a democracy defending itself against evil, the US must stand against them and ensure there are consequences for these international bureaucrats,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said in a statement on the bill.
On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people and abducting some 240 others. Israel subsequently launched military operations in the Gaza Strip, which have killed more than 36,479 people in the Palestinian enclave, according to local authorities.
Hamas is “wholly responsible” for deaths related to the conflict, Scalise said.
The Biden administration strongly opposes the legislation, the White House Office of Management and Budget said on Monday. There are more effective ways to defend Israel and preserve US positions on the ICC, the statement said, adding that the Biden administration is prepared to work with lawmakers on other options.