US government want to “punish” the International Criminal Court (ICC) for probing war crimes in Gaza committed by Israel.

The ICC is seeking to charge Israeli leaders with war crimes committed in Gaza.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant while the court does not approve the motion made by US lawmakers against the warrants.

The proposal to vote for sanctions passed with 247 votes in favor and 155 opposed. Every Republican and 42 pro-Israel Democrats voted yes. The rest of President Joe Biden’s party voted no.

Supported by Texas Republican Chip Roy, the bill would see the US impose travel and financial sanctions against ICC officials, giving the US president unilateral authority to end them if the court stops investigating Americans or their allies, or “permanently ends” investigations into protected individuals.

“It would sanction the leaders of some of our strongest allies: the UK, Italy, Germany, Japan. That’s dangerous stuff,” said Congressman Gregory Meeks, the New York Democrat who takes sit on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “It’s so broad that it becomes very dangerous for us.”

In fact, the bill is supported by both Republicans and Democrats, and its purpose, as have said, is to “send an important message” to the world that the United States stands with Israel, regardless of any criminal acts.