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Floor Speech

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Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, 480. That is the number of days since terror shook the Middle East. It has been 480 days since Hamas's unprovoked attack; 480 days since Hamas brought brutal terror on Israel and the citizens of more than 30 countries; 480 days since American family members and friends were kidnapped.

Last year, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his former defense minister. The illegitimate court--which acts as prosecutor, jury, and judge-- brought politically motivated charges for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Since when did self-defense in the face of terrorist attacks and atrocities become a war crime?

The ICC has forgotten too quickly who started this war, who turned a music festival into a graveyard, who attacked unprovoked, bringing devastating carnage on defenseless victims.

The ICC has forgotten the seven Americans still in Gaza, our fellow country men and women. They have forgotten the remains of the innocent Hamas victims that Hamas keeps--the hostages even in death. They have forgotten the corpses in the streets, the babies and the soldiers beheaded, the people burned alive in their cars. They have forgotten the doors riddled with bullet holes, the ground stained with blood, the smell of decaying flesh.

The ICC has forgotten the hell Hamas inflicted on Israel and many other nations. And, instead, it vilifies a nation seeking justice and the chance to live in peace. This is not surprising. From the beginning, the United States has rejected this body.

From President Clinton to President Trump, every President-- Democratic and Republican--has never recognized the ICC's jurisdiction over our Nation. In fact, no President has even submitted the Rome Statute establishing the ICC to the Senate for advice and consent. We have never ratified it.

And why? Because entrusting an international governing body with authority over U.S. citizens risks undermining the very freedoms and sovereignty that define this Nation.

The ICC has repeatedly sought to impose its authority over the United States and over our allies. And now, it has alleged that Israel has committed war crimes.

Meanwhile, the tribunal conveniently turns a blind eye to atrocities in China, hiding behind the excuse of nonmembership, despite the fact that neither the United States nor Israel are members. The hypocrisy of the ICC is breathtaking.

Well, enough is enough. Earlier this month, the House passed the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act on a bipartisan basis. I am deeply--deeply--disappointed that my Democratic colleagues who voted against moving forward on this legislation did that here in the U.S. Senate. I sincerely hope that they reconsider. Our sovereignty is non- negotiable. Allowing the ICC to operate unchecked and without consequence grants them authority where they should have none. Worse, it sets a standard that encourages repetition.

We have a responsibility to protect the sovereignty of our Nation and our allies. This moment demands courage, and it demands conviction. And we must rise to meet it.

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