WASHINGTON

The US Senate on Tuesday blocked a bill to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its arrest warrants against Israeli officials over the war in Gaza.

Senators voted 54-45 on the "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act," falling short of the 60 votes required to prevail.

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voted in favor, and Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff did not vote.

Earlier this month, the bill passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming margin, 243 - 140, in a signal of strong support for Israel.

Before the Senate began voting on whether to sanction the ICC after the Court issued arrest warrants last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, Majority Leader John Thune urged Democrats to help pass legislation.

Thune said the "illegitimate targeting of a key US ally should concern all of us," and added that the ICC could target Americans and American soldiers next.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, for his part, said the bill is one that he "largely" supports and would like to see become law.

"However, as much as I oppose the ICC bias against Israel, as much as I want to see that institution drastically reformed and reshaped, the bill before us is poorly drafted and deeply problematic," Schumer said.

Israel killed more than 47,000 people, mostly women and children, in Gaza, since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.

The relentless bombardment has displaced most of Gaza’s population, led to shortages of food and other necessities, and left much of the enclave in ruins. A ceasefire has been in place since Jan. 19.