WASHINGTON DC: Senator John Thune, the incoming Republican Senate leader, has pledged to pressure the International Criminal Court (ICC) to halt its pursuit of arrest warrants against Israeli officials. Thune warned that failure to do so would lead to legislative action from the Senate.
Thune criticized the ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, over actions targeting Israeli leaders.
“If the ICC and its prosecutor do not reverse their outrageous and unlawful actions to pursue arrest warrants against Israeli officials, the Senate should immediately pass sanctions legislation,” Thune said in a post on X.
He emphasized that Israel is a key U.S. ally and pledged Republican efforts to protect its leaders from ICC scrutiny.
Legislative Priority
Thune also challenged current Senate leadership.
“If [Democrat] Majority Leader Schumer does not act, the Senate Republican majority will stand with Israel and make this – and other supportive legislation – a top priority in the next Congress,” he added.
Arrest Warrants Announced
In May, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders.
The warrants against the Hamas leaders became moot after their deaths in Israeli strikes. However, the ICC has yet to decide whether to approve the warrants for Israeli officials.
Republican Opposition
Republicans have long opposed ICC investigations into Israeli actions.
Senior GOP figures previously warned Khan against pursuing Israeli leaders. They even wrote to Khan’s office, threatening to bar him and his family from entering the United States if he proceeded with the May announcement.
A Divided Debate
Thune’s comments come amid heightened tensions between U.S. political factions over foreign policy priorities. The ICC investigation and potential actions against Israeli officials have drawn sharp divisions in Washington.
Republican leaders are determined to defend Israel from international legal action, framing it as a critical issue in upcoming legislative sessions.
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