Democrats in the US Senate on Tuesday blocked a Republican-led effort to punish the International Criminal Court in protest over its arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Galant, over Israel's war of genocide in Gaza.

The House voted 54-45 in favor of the bill, meaning the measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance to a vote in the 100-member Senate.

The only Democratic senator who voted with Republicans to advance the measure was Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a staunch defender of Israel and a mouthpiece for Israel and the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC. The Jewish-American Democratic senator from Georgia, Jon Ossoff, did not vote either negatively or positively.

The “Anti-Illegitimate Court Act,” introduced by right-wing evangelist Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, would impose sanctions on any foreigner who investigates, arrests, detains or prosecutes American citizens or citizens of an allied country, including Israel, that is not a member of the court.

The House passed the bill earlier this month by a vote of 243 to 140, with 45 Democrats joining a majority of Republicans in support. In the Senate, Democrats said they agreed with much of the bill, but it was too broad, risked alienating key U.S. allies and imposed sanctions on lower-level court staff in the Netherlands.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said the party tried to reach a compromise with Republicans but couldn't.

Republicans said they hope the bill will pass in time for President Donald Trump to sign it into law, especially with Netanyahu due to visit him at the White House next Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, the most senior Jewish American in the US political landscape, urged his colleagues to vote “no,” accusing the ICC of “anti-Israel bias that cannot be ignored.” However, he said the bill was poorly drafted and could also target American companies, such as those whose products help protect the court from foreign hackers.

It is noteworthy that the International Criminal Court is a permanent court that can prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression in member states or by their nationals.

The court said its decision to pursue arrest warrants against Israeli officials was consistent with its approach in all cases, based on the prosecutor's assessment that there was sufficient evidence to proceed, and the view that seeking arrest warrants immediately could prevent ongoing crimes.

Republicans in Congress have condemned the ICC since it issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Galant, on November 21, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. Israel denies the allegations.

To urge support for the bill, Senator Jim Risch, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, accused the ICC of pursuing the Israeli leader for political reasons.

"It is just another example of the politicization and anti-Semitism that has become endemic among a number of international organizations," he told reporters.

The war crimes court has taken steps to protect employees from potential US sanctions, paying salaries three months in advance as it prepares for financial constraints.