Give ICC prosecutor ‘taste of own medicine,’ senators tell U.S. attorney general

"Four Republican senators are urging Merrick Garland, the U.S. attorney general, to investigate the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor, whom they accused of having ‘broken American law by materially supporting terrorism through his unjust and unjustified targeting of Israel’s prime minister and defense minister.’

The ICC, a judicial arm of the United Nations in The Hague, took ‘action against Israel—which Hamas requested and now applauds’ that ‘manifestly provides ‘material support’ to Hamas by attempting to isolate Israel politically and diplomatically through legal advocacy for Hamas,’ per the letter, which Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) led.

‘The extent of ICC-Hamas coordination is unknown, but express statements by Mr. Khan and others associated with the prosecution suggest that the coordination may have been extensive,’ the letter added.

Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) were the other signatories.

‘Hamas, which has governed Gaza for nearly 20 years, is a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. Federal law prohibits any material support to terrorist groups, including ‘expert advice or assistance,’ which the law defines as ‘advice or assistance derived from scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge,'‘ the senators wrote.

‘The use of an international organization to advance the interests of a terrorist organization can qualify as material support, particularly when done ‘in coordination’ with such groups,’ they added.

The senators wrote that Hamas requested and applauded the ICC’s action against the Jewish state which ‘manifestly provides ‘material support’ to Hamas by attempting to isolate Israel politically and diplomatically through legal advocacy for Hamas.’..."