WASHINGTON, June 5 — The Republican-led US House of Representatives passed legislation that would impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court over its prosecutor's decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli officials related to the war in Gaza.
The vote was 247 to 155, with 42 Democrats joining Republicans in backing the measure. There were no Republican "nay" votes, although two voted "present."
The measure is not expected to become law, but reflects continuing support for Israel in Congress amid international criticism over the Middle East country's campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The White House last month criticised the ICC's decision to seek the warrants.
The bill is not expected to be brought up for a vote in the Senate, which is narrowly controlled by Biden's fellow Democrats.
The legislation would impose sanctions on people involved in ICC prosecutions of Americans or citizens of US allies that are not ICC members, including Israel.
It also would block such ICC officials' entry to the United States, revoke any US visas and restrict them from US property transactions.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said last month — after more than seven months of war in Gaza — that he had reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu's defence chief and three Hamas leaders "bear criminal responsibility" for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Netanyahu said the ICC prosecutor's decision was absurd and that the move was meant to target all of Israel.
Israel launched an air and ground offensive in Gaza last October, vowing to destroy Hamas after militants attack southern Israel on October 7.
The Israeli military campaign has killed more than 36,000 people in densely populated Gaza, according to its health authorities, who say thousands more bodies are buried under rubble.
Hamas yet to respond to ceasefire proposal
Meanwhile, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Tuesday that response from Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Israel's ceasefire proposal that US President Joe Biden revealed on Friday is still being awaited.
"We are waiting for a response from Hamas through the Qatari mediators,” Sullivan said.
CIA director Bill Burns will be in Doha to consult with Qatari mediators on the Gaza ceasefire proposal, Sullivan added. Qatar has been mediating on Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
Qatar said on Tuesday it had delivered the Israeli ceasefire proposal to Hamas that reflected a three-phase proposal presented by Biden, and that the paper was now much closer to the positions of both sides.
A spokesman for Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, reiterated on Tuesday it could not agree to any deal unless Israel makes a "clear" commitment to a permanent truce and complete withdrawal from Gaza.
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also repeated that there can be no permanent peace unless Hamas is eradicated, as he struggles with profound political divisions at home over the US-backed truce proposal.
— Reuters
