Congresswoman Morrison Joins Colleagues in Urging ICC to Rescind Dangerous Israel Arrest Warrants
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Kelly Morrison (MN-03) joined Rep. Eugene Vindman (VA-7), Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), and her colleagues in calling for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to rescind the deeply concerning arrest warrants issued against Israeli leadership.
“I am strongly opposed to the ICC's decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. That’s why this week I joined my colleagues in urging the ICC to rescind these unwarranted actions, which set a dangerous precedent against democratic nations seeking to protect themselves. Israel must have the right to defend itself," Congresswoman Morrison said
“I had concerns with the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act that was brought to a vote this week, which had the potential to undermine our allies and our national security. I believe there are more effective ways to defend Israel, preserve U.S. positions on the ICC, and promote international justice and accountability, and I stand ready to work with my colleagues on those options.”
Full text of letter:
Dear President Kaukoranta,
We are deeply concerned about the ICC’s recent decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. This action severely undermines the principles of justice and threatens to politicize the Court’s critical mission to prosecute the world’s most egregious crimes.
The Rome Statute’s principle of complementarity is clear: the ICC should act only when national jurisdictions are unwilling or unable to prosecute. Israel is a democracy governed by the rule of law, with an independent judiciary capable of addressing allegations of misconduct. Issuing arrest warrants against leaders of a democratic nation defending itself against Hamas—a terrorist organization responsible for heinous war crimes—sets a dangerous precedent that emboldens bad actors and delegitimizes the Court.
The ICC’s decision risks eroding trust in the international justice system. At a time when the Court’s efforts to hold Russia accountable for atrocities in Ukraine require global consensus, this decision diverts attention and resources from prosecuting genuine war criminals. It also sends a chilling message to democracies combating terrorism, potentially endangering broader international cooperation.
We strongly urge the ICC to reconsider these arrest warrants, refocus its efforts on clear cases of atrocity crimes, and uphold the integrity of its mandate.