A few weeks ago, I had a run-in with a group of pro-Hamas sympathizers from the leftist group Code Pink. The protesters confronted me over my support for Israel’s right to defend itself. 

I responded with a simple question: “Do you know where we stand on terrorists?” The answer: “We stand on their throats.” 

I’m updating that a bit today. We stand on the throats of terrorists, but we also stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies. 

That’s why I’m introducing legislation to restore former President Donald Trump’s sanctions on the International Criminal Court. 

In 2020, Trump issued an executive order sanctioning nearly 14,000 ICC employees, citing the agency’s corruption and bias against the U.S. government. Unfortunately, President Joe Biden revoked these sanctions when he took office, emboldening the ICC.  

Now, the ICC appears to be readying bogus charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of the war Cabinet. 

If it moves forward, the ICC will likely smear Israel as a war criminal for its pursuit of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Nothing can be further from the truth. 

Israel has taken significant action to protect civilians from the tragedy of war. After the drone strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers, for example, the IDF immediately began to investigate and reprimand those responsible for the tragic accident. Similarly, Israel’s efforts to evacuate civilians ahead of its invasion of Rafah exemplify its commitment to shielding innocent lives from the brutality of war. 

While Israel will ultimately be proven righteous, the ICC’s conduct cannot go without a response from the United States. We may not recognize the ICC formally, but they better recognize what happens when you target America or its allies.

My legislation, crafted with Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), would impose sanctions on any ICC official working to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute Israeli officials. The sanctions apply to not just ICC employees, but their immediate families as well. 

Under our bill, ICC officials and their families would be denied visas to enter the United States. Those already here would have their visas revoked and face deportation. 

While the bill is drafted in response to the ICC’s harassment of Israelis, it goes much further. The sanctions would cover any actions the ICC takes against American citizens and officials from allied countries. The latter includes NATO and major non-NATO ally countries, including Israel, Japan, and Taiwan. 

Unlike other sanctions bills introduced in the past, ours does not include exemptions allowing individuals to enter the U.S. to attend meetings of the United Nations. You shouldn’t be allowed to stab America in the back one day and then fly here the next to be toasted and celebrated by the United Nations. 

Our sanctions bill is premised on the simple idea that America’s interests can and must be put first.

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There is no scenario where the U.S. wins if a faraway judicial body, unaccountable to hard-working American taxpayers, can punish our allies for defending themselves. It’s also insane to argue that our citizens will benefit if Hamas, a terrorist group that hates America and is funded by Iran, is given free rein in the Middle East — which is apparently the ICC’s goal. 

Now, you already know where I stand on terrorists such as Hamas. But it’s time for Congress to show where we stand with our allies. The only right answer is shoulder to shoulder. 

Brian Mast is a U.S. representative for Florida and serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.