Senate Democrats Block International Criminal Court Sanctions Bill

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats blocked legislation that threatens to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) after the organization issued arrest warrants against Israeli leaders last year.

Forty-five Democrats opposed breaking the filibuster, resulting in a 54-45 vote that fell short of the 60-vote threshold needed to begin debate on the bill, which passed the GOP-controlled House earlier this month.

54-45:Democrats blocked the Senate from advancing a House-passed bill to sanction the International Criminal Court for issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.60 votes were needed. Fetterman (PA) was the only Democrat to vote Yes. Ossoff (GA) did not vote. pic.twitter.com/oMGSzvZV40

— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) January 28, 2025

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the sole Democrat to vote in favor of the bill. “The ICC’s treatment towards Israel and equivocating to Hamas was unacceptable,” he said on X. “We should absolutely sanction the ICC.”

Republicans called out Democrats who opposed the legislation, including Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY), who said: “Republicans are holding the ICC accountable with sanctions. Democrats are blocking us. Why?”

Criminals in the world today have a friend — the International Criminal Court.

They target Israel while letting evil regimes around the world off the hook.

Right now Republicans are holding the ICC accountable with sanctions. Democrats are blocking us. Why?

— Sen. John Barrasso (@SenJohnBarrasso) January 28, 2025

Democrats voted against protecting American troops from a corrupt kangaroo court. They had 10 months to negotiate this bill, but instead waited until the last minute to demand unworkable changes that would give carve outs to big tech. Make no mistake-Democrats weakened our…

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 28, 2025

Senate Democrats are using their new-found respect for the filibuster to effectively endorse the ICC’s illegitimate prosecution of our closest ally in the Middle East. It is outrageous!

AMERICA STANDS WITH ISRAEL & AGAINST LAWFARE.

All these Senate Democrats have done is…

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) January 28, 2025

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reportedly criticized the ICC for how “their anti-Israel bias has taken over and become too much,” but also claimed the sanctions bill was “poorly drafted” and “deeply flawed.”

The legislation would “impose sanctions with respect to the International Criminal Court engaged in any effort to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any protected person of the United States and its allies.”

Penalties listed in the bill would have the president implement restrictions on transactions of property and interests within the U.S., as well as visas, admission, or parole for anyone linked to offending ICC actions.

Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Brian Mast (R-FL) first unveiled the sanctions bill last May, citing reports indicating the ICC was prepared to issue arrest warrants against Israeli officials in response to the war in the Gaza Strip.

The ICC later issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant — as well as Hamas terror group officials — a move that got bipartisan criticism in the U.S.

In the last session of Congress, the House passed the legislation only for it to be ignored by the Democrat-led Senate amid opposition by President Joe Biden. The House passed the bill again for the new term.

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“Last year, I committed to putting this bill on the floor when Republicans were in the majority. Today, I’m following through on that promise,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) declared in a post to X.

Thune also included a forward-looking warning to his post, saying, “While the ICC is targeting Israeli leaders today, it could easily set its sights on Americans – and American soldiers in particular – tomorrow.”