Senate Majority Leader elect John Thune, poised to take office in January under the Trump administration, issued a stark warning Sunday night that signals the new administration's unwavering support for Israel.
In a statement posted on X, Thune declared that "If the ICC and its prosecutor do not reverse their outrageous and unlawful actions to pursue arrest warrants against Israeli officials [Israli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant], the Senate should immediately pass sanctions legislation, as the House has already done on a bipartisan basis."
The incoming Senate leader also directed a clear message to Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, asserting that "If Majority Leader Schumer does not act, the Senate Republican majority will stand with our key ally Israel and make this – and other supportive legislation – a top priority in the next Congress."
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, as the House has already done on a bipartisan basis. If Majority Leader Schumer does…
— Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) November 17, 2024
The statement comes months after the ICC in The Hague issued arrest warrants against Prime Minister Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant regarding the Gaza war.
Speaking about the anticipated warrant in May, Gallant stated: "Prosecutor Karim Khan's attempt to deny Israel the right to self-defense and the liberation of its hostages must be categorically rejected. His attempt to distort reality will fail – the prosecutor's equating of the Hamas terror organization with the State of Israel is despicable and abhorrent. Israel is not a party to the court and does not recognize its jurisdiction."
This development followed the ICC top prosecutor Karim Khan's intention to seek arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. During an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Khan indicated he would also move swiftly to secure arrest warrants against Hamas terror organization leaders.
