Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Congress on Tuesday said he would be “happy” to work with Congress on an “appropriate response” over the International Criminal Court’s decision on Monday to seek arrest warrants for Israeli leaders amid the country’s war with Hamas in Gaza. 

The secretary made the comment during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Tuesday that featured multiple interruptions from demonstrators protesting the Biden administration’s support of Israel amid the war. 

What You Need To Know

  • Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday said he would be “happy” to work with Congress on an “appropriate response” over the International Criminal Court’s decision on Monday to seek arrest warrants for Israeli leaders amid the country’s war with Hamas in Gaza 
  • The secretary made the comment during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Tuesday that featured multiple interruptions from demonstrators protesting the Biden administration’s support of Israel amid the war 
  • In the wake of the decision, some in the GOP are calling on the U.S. to impose sanctions on the ICC 
  • Blinken on Tuesday also said the move by the ICC potentially “complicates” efforts to get a hostage release and ceasefire deal in place 

While testifying, Blinken reinforced the swift criticism expressed by President Joe Biden and himself following the ICC’s move on Monday, this time calling it “extremely wrongheaded.”

“That decision, as you said, on so many levels, is totally wrongheaded,” Blinken said. “And we'll be happy to work with Congress, with this committee, on an appropriate response.”

Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, said on Monday that he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amd Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders Yehia Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh, for war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Biden on Monday called the decision “outrageous.” Congressional Republicans and the two Democratic leaders in Congress similarly condemned the move. 

In the wake of the decision, some in the GOP are calling on the U.S. to impose sanctions on the ICC. 

Asked whether the White House would support such a move, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday that the administration is “having discussions” with those on the Hill about next steps. 

Blinken on Tuesday also said the move by the ICC potentially “complicates” efforts to get a hostage release and ceasefire deal in place. 

“I have to say, the extremely wrongheaded decision by the ICC prosecutor yesterday, the shameful equivalence implied between Hamas and the leadership of Israel, I think that only complicates the prospects for getting such an agreement,” Blinken told senators. 

The U.S., Egypt and Qatar have been working for months to negotiate a new deal between Israel and Hamas that would see hostages still being held in Gaza released in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in the war. 

The hearing about the State Department's budget got off to a raucous start, with protesters interrupting his testimony — followed by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle taking him to task over the Biden administration's handling of the war between Israel and Hamas. 

Some Democrats complained that the Biden administration has been unwilling to hold Israel accountable for the deaths of Palestinian civilians, while Republicans accused the administration of not sufficiently supporting the United States' top ally in the Middle East.

Blinken will return to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to testify before House lawmakers.

Spectrum News' Daniel Grimes and Justin Tasolides contributed to this report.