Treasure Coast Sun

In a stern response to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Rep. Brian Mast (FL-21) expressed his vehement disapproval. The ICC's move is seen as a reaction to Israel's defense measures against 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. He added that it was time for Congress to stand up against this global organization. “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.”

Congressman Mast, who is also a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act in response to the ICC's actions. This proposed legislation would impose sanctions on any foreign individual involved in an ICC effort to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute a U.S. citizen or an official from an allied U.S. country. As currently drafted, the bill would apply to officials from NATO as well as major non-NATO countries such as Israel, Japan, and Taiwan.

The act proposes stringent sanctions which include denying visas for ICC officials and their immediate family members intending to enter the United States. For those already present in the country, their existing visas would be revoked leading potentially to deportation.

The proposed legislation not only targets ICC employees and their families but also extends its reach to individuals providing “financial, material, or technological support” to the organization.