WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Brian Mast (FL-21) blasted the International Criminal Court (ICC) for moving to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for defending their nation against the barbarity of Hamas. 

“The International Kangaroo Court is trying to create a false equivalency between Hamas and Israel. Hamas raped and butchered 1,200 innocent Israeli and American citizens on October 7th. Everything Israel has done since has been to secure the release of the remaining hostages, including six Americans,” said Congressman Mast. “It’s time that Congress put this globalist organization in its place. House Republicans will send a clear message that although America doesn't recognize the International Criminal Court — the court sure as hell will recognize what happens when you target our allies.”

A senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Mast has introduced the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act. This bill would sanction any foreign individual engaged in an effort by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute a U.S. citizen or an official from an allied U.S. country. As written, the legislation would cover officials from NATO as well as major non-NATO countries, including Israel, Japan, and Taiwan.

As part of the sanctions imposed by the act, ICC officials and their immediate family members would be denied visas to enter the United States. ICC officials already in the country would have their existing visas revoked and face deportation.

The legislation covers not just ICC employees and their families, but also individuals providing “financial, material, or technological support” to the organization.

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