House Dem support grows for pro-Israel bill sanctioning ICC

Driving the news: The bill passed 243 to 140, with all Republicans voting for it except anti-interventionist Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who voted "present."

• Democrats split on the bill, with 140 voting against it and 45 for it — up slightly from 42 last year.
• Reps. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) flipped from voting against the bill to voting for it, while Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.) voted for it after previously being absent.
• Nine Democratic freshmen backed the bill, while several who voted for it last year retired or were defeated for reelection.

Zoom in: The legislation imposes economic and travel restrictions on ICC officials involved in prosecuting Americans or citizens of U.S.-allied countries that are not a party to the ICC, which includes Israel.

• It was introduced last year over the ICC seeking arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, which were formally issued in November.
• Democratic leadership did not formally whip against the bill but told its members in a whip notice that House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.) opposes it.

Zoom out: The increased Democratic vote count comes after seven House Democrats flipped on the Laken Riley Act from "no" last year to "yes" on Tuesday.

• That bill would require the deportation of undocumented immigrants arrested for theft and give state attorneys general the ability to sue the federal government over its immigration policy.
• Several Democrats told Axios they believe the party's 2024 election loss has impacted how the party approaches these GOP "messaging" bills.