The Hague-based courtroom is “a harmful joke” and have to be restricted, Senator Lindsey Graham has mentioned
US Senator Lindsey Graham has referred to as for Washington to slap sanctions on the Worldwide Legal Courtroom (ICC) for issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Protection Minister Yoav Gallant.
On Thursday, The Hague-based physique accused Netanyahu and Gallant of “crimes towards humanity” allegedly dedicated throughout Israel’s battle with the Palestinian armed group Hamas in Gaza. ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan additionally introduced related expenses towards Hamas army chief Mohammed Deif. The Israeli authorities claimed that Deif had been killed in an airstrike in July.
In a publish on X later within the day, Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina who’s an ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, wrote that the ICC “acted in essentially the most absurd and irresponsible method attainable” by going after the Israeli politicians, “whereas there’s a severe cloud of allegations hanging over the prosecutor who sought these warrants.”
He was referring to an exterior investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct by Khan, which the ICC introduced final week.
The prosecutor mentioned he would interact with the probe whereas persevering with to hold out “all different capabilities.” He denied any wrongdoing.
“The Courtroom is a harmful joke. It’s now time for the US Senate to behave and sanction this irresponsible physique,” Graham mentioned.
In line with the lawmaker, “[Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer must cross the bipartisan laws that got here from the Home sanctioning the Courtroom for such an outrage and [US President Joe] Biden must signal it.”
In June, the US Home of Representatives, the place the Republicans have a majority, voted in a invoice limiting entry to the US and US-based property transactions for ICC officers concerned with the prosecution of Netanyahu and Gallant. Nonetheless, the Democrat-controlled Senate has not thought of the measure. The Republicans can be in charge of each the Home and the Senate in early 2025 following the outcomes of the November 5 election.
In one other publish, Graham introduced that he’ll introduce laws focusing on nations that assist the ICC in its motion towards the Israeli prime minister and former protection minister.
“You may count on penalties from the US. Any nation that joins with the ICC after this outrage is a accomplice in a reckless act that tramples the rule of regulation,” he warned.
Israel is just not a celebration to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. Nonetheless, Netanyahu and Gallant may very well be detained in any of 124 nations that acknowledge the courtroom’s authority.
Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and Jordan are among the many nations which have mentioned they might adjust to the ICC’s arrest warrants.
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