Israel’s Knesset has advanced a bill prohibiting Israeli citizens, authorities, and public bodies from cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, as the government faces mounting legal scrutiny over its actions in Gaza.
The bill, submitted by Likud MK Amit Halevi, passed its preliminary reading with 25 votes in favour and 10 against.
Under the proposed law, any individual providing services or resources to the ICC could face up to five years in prison, unless they can prove they were unaware that their actions supported the court’s operations.
It also bans cooperation with the ICC by public authorities and entities, while preventing individuals acting on behalf of the court from entering, residing in, or owning assets in Israel.
The bill follows increasing legal pressure on Israeli leaders, with the ICC issuing arrest warrants in November for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel’s war on Gaza.
Israel’s Knesset also passed a controversial new law on the same day that denies entry to non-Israeli citizens who deny the Israeli narrative on the events of the 7 October 2023, the Holocaust, or support the prosecution of Israeli security personnel by international courts.
The law builds on a 2017 amendment that barred non-citizens from entering the country if they called for a boycott of Israel. The new restrictions further tighten Israel’s policies on foreign visitors and critics of the government.
Michel Buskila, a member of the right-wing New Hope-United Right party, introduced the bill, which was initially drafted by MK Zeev Elkin.
The Government Media Office reported that the Gaza death toll has risen to at least 61,709 people, with thousands more Palestinians still missing under the rubble.
