Senator Lindsey Graham issued a stern ultimatum to U.S. allies Friday following the International Criminal Courtโs (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Graham did not mince words, warning nations against cooperating with the ICCโs move.
โIf you are going to help the ICC as a nation and enforce their arrest warrant against Bibi [Netanyahu] and Gallant, I will put sanctions on you,โ Graham declared. โYouโre going to have to pickโthe rogue ICC or America.โ
The ICCโs arrest warrants accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of serious crimes, including the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity such as murder and persecution. These allegations, stemming from their roles in conflicts involving Israel, have sent shockwaves through the international community.
Graham, however, was unequivocal in his defense of the Israeli leaders. โIโm working with [Senator] Tom Cotton to pass legislation as soon as possible to sanction any country that aids and abets the arrest of any politician in Israel,โ he said, extending his warning to traditional U.S. allies. โCanada, Britain, Germany, Franceโif you try to help the ICC, weโre going to sanction you.โ
Hannity pressed the senator on the consequences for nations that follow the ICCโs orders. Grahamโs response was blunt: โWe should crush your economy.โ
The controversy underscores the growing tensions between the U.S., its allies, and the ICC over the courtโs jurisdiction and actions. The ICC, in its statement, justified the warrants by claiming Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for atrocities committed under their leadership.
Grahamโs remarks reflect not only his staunch support for Israel but also a broader U.S. skepticism toward the ICCโs legitimacy. The coming days will reveal whether his bold threat of economic sanctions reshapes the international responseโor further strains Americaโs alliances.
Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, has been a prominent figure in U.S. politics for decades.
First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, Graham gained national attention during the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton as a member of the House Judiciary Committee. He transitioned to the Senate in 2003, succeeding longtime Senator Strom Thurmond.
In the Senate, Graham has been a strong advocate for a robust U.S. military, a hawkish approach to foreign policy, and conservative judicial appointments. Over the years, he has also shown moments of bipartisan cooperation, particularly on issues like immigration reform.
A close ally of President-elect Donald Trump during much of his first term as president, Graham has maintained a complex political persona, often navigating between staunch partisanship and pragmatic deal-making. As the senior senator from South Carolina, he remains a powerful voice in Washington, particularly on matters of national security and international relations.
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