A dozen Republican senators sent a letter warning International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan not to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials.

“Target Israel, and we will target you,” the senators, led by Sen. Tom Cotton, warned in the letter. “Such actions are illegitimate and lack legal basis, and, if carried out, will result in severe sanctions against you and your institution.” On Friday, the office of the chief prosecutor posted a statement on X denouncing threats against it as well as attempts to intimidate and impede its officials. US media has reported that Israeli officials have recently grown increasingly worried that the ICC is preparing to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, War Minister Yoav Gallant and military chief Staff Herzi Halevi over violation of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Meanwhile, Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American lawmaker in the US Congress, called on the ICC to issue arrest warrants for the Israeli officials. Israel is accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.