Republican senators vow to ruin ICC if they seek to arrest Netanyahu: ‘We will target you’

Twelve Republican senators have vowed to take on the UN court that prosecutes individuals for war crimes if it issues an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with his ongoing military campaign in Gaza .

In a letter first reported by Zeteo, Republican senators, led by Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, vowed to target the International Criminal Court and its employees if it issues an arrest warrant for Netanyahu — an act which several Israeli leaders believe is imminent. .

“Target Israel and we will target you,” the letter read. He threatens to use the Bush administration’s American Service-Members’ Protection Act of 2002 – also known colloquially as “The Hague Invasion Act” – to force the ICC to release any person or US ally it holds.

“If you issue an arrest warrant against Israeli leaders, we will interpret it not only as a threat to the sovereignty of Israel but also to the sovereignty of the United States,” he continued.

“We will end all U.S. support for the ICC, sanction your employees and associates, and bar you and your families from entry into the United States. You have been warned,” he finishes.

The letter is dated April 24, a week before the ICC Prosecutor’s Office issued an unusual statement denouncing individuals who “threaten reprisals against the Court or Court personnel” in prosecutorial decisions. He warned that the mere threat of reprisals against the ICC could violate the Rome Statute that created the court.

“The Office insists that all attempts to obstruct, intimidate or unduly influence its officials cease immediately,” the statement said.

The Biden administration has made clear that it does not support a possible ICC investigation into Netanyahu, even as White House allies were quick to condemn the intimidation tactics of Republican senators.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called his conservative colleagues’ behavior worthy of a mob, not members of Congress.

“It is fine to express opposition to possible legal action, but it is absolutely wrong to interfere in a legal matter by threatening retaliation against judges, their family members and their employees,” Van Hollen said in Zeteo.

“This brutality is something that suits the mafia, not US senators.”

The 12 senators included party leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), former presidential candidates Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), and current Vice President Trump President, Sen. Tim Scott (R-FL). -SC).

Last year, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which the Biden administration supported.

The court is also believed to be exploring the possibility of issuing arrest warrants for Hamas leaders, the New York Times reported.

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