Steny H. Hoyer

01/28/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/28/2025 16:13

Hoyer Statement on the U.S. Senate's International Criminal Court Sanctions Legislation Vote

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today regarding the U.S. Senate's vote on legislation that would hold the International Criminal Court (ICC) accountable for their decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant:

"I am disappointed that Senate Republicans refused to work with Democrats to put forward an International Criminal Court sanctions bill that can pass the Senate and House with as much support as possible and become law. Sending Israel a resounding, bipartisan signal of America's support is far more crucial than including far-reaching bill text that aims to divide the other side of the aisle.

"A large bipartisan majority of this Congress wants to hold the ICC accountable for its controversial decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Many of us were compelled to vote against the recent House bill imposing sanctions on the ICC, however, because of sweeping legislative language that would make anyone involved in the ICC's investigations - including family members of the court's employees - potential targets of U.S. sanctions.

"The Senate repeated that mistake today. We must not allow partisan quarrels, riders, and poison pills degrade our consensus on this issue. In one voice, our Congress needs to make it clear how the ICC's actions undermined trust in the international justice system and set a dangerous precedent for Israel, the United States, and other democratic nations defending themselves against terrorism."