Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story  House passes bill to sanction ICC over Israeli arrest warrants The Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act would sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has arrest warrants out for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant. © Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast (R-Fla.), who co-sponsored the legislation along with Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), made the bill a priority by bringing it to the floor quickly in the new Congress.  Mast wanted to send a message that the U.S. would stand by Israel, a GOP congressional aide told The Hill earlier this week.  “A kangaroo court is seeking to arrest the prime minister of our great ally, Israel, which is not only responding to an enemy, which conducted a genocide," Mast said Thursday on the House floor, "but an enemy who still holds 100 hostages."  The bill passed on a 243-140 vote, with one lawmaker voting present and 50 not voting. A similar measure failed last year, but gained the support of 40 Democrats.  This time, 45 Democrats voted in support of it.  Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) said the ICC "cannot let facts get in the way of its ideological crusade against the Jewish State.”  Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had vowed to advance the legislation this week, saying it was "outrageous" the ICC would pursue warrants against Israel.  Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) debated against Republicans ahead of the vote, accusing them of moving against the international court because they “don’t want the rules to apply to everyone.”  The bill would sanction any officials with the court, or entities supporting the ICC, who seek to investigate, arrest or detain any U.S. citizen or citizen of an allied country. The legislation applies to the 32-member Western security alliance NATO and 19 major non-NATO countries, including allies such as Israel.  The ICC issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and Gallant, along with a top Hamas commander believed dead.  The independent court, which the U.S. and Israel are not party to, accused both Israel and Hamas of war crimes.  Hamas killed some 1,200 people and took roughly 250 hostages in its Oct. 7, 2023, attack that started the war, while local health officials say more than 46,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza as Israel fights against the militant group. On the other side of Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said he would be bringing the bill to the floor after his predecessor, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), refused to do so last year.  Read more at TheHill.com here.  Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Brad Dress — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.   Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future:  Outgoing ICE director: Biden should have tightened border security soonerThe outgoing head of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) said in an interview Wednesday that President Biden should have tightened border security sooner. “Do you think that Biden should’ve taken that action earlier?” NBC News’s Julia Ainsley asked acting ICE Director Patrick Lechleitner in an interview that aired on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” referring to executive action the president moved forward with …  Full Story  Biden administration providing additional $500M in weapons to UkraineThe Biden administration is providing an additional $500 million package in weapons and equipment to Ukraine from its existing military stockpiles, looking to further reinforce Kyiv’s military less than two weeks before President-elect Trump is set to take office.  The weapons package, which was announced Thursday, is likely to be the last under President Biden. It is funded by the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), …  Full Story  Pentagon ‘not aware of any plans’ to take Greenland by forceThe Pentagon on Wednesday said it was “not aware” of any plans to invade Greenland if ordered to do so, after President-elect Trump a day earlier refused to rule out using military force to seize Denmark’s autonomous territory. “I’m certainly not going to get into hypothetical situations. I think that’s for the incoming administration to speak to,” Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters …  Full Story  Trump provokes anxieties with Greenland, Panama Canal military talk President-elect Trump’s refusal to rule out military action to attain his ambitions of acquiring the Panama Canal and Greenland has sparked some stern responses overseas and spurred a global debate over how seriously to take the incoming president.    While it’s unclear how serious he is, the rhetoric alone has sparked concerns about imperialistic goals in his second administration, and what his endgame might …  Full Story   On Our Radar  Upcoming things we're watching on our beat:  Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to Italy before returning home this weekend. President Biden has canceled a trip to Italy amid the wildfires in California. The Pentagon is surging assets to California to help battle the raging wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The U.S. announced its last major package for Ukraine on Thursday and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held his last meeting with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.   In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill:Greenland important for national security: Waltz Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), President-elect Trump’s pick for national security adviser, said Wednesday that Greenland is important for national security, leaning into Trump’s expressed interest in acquiring the island territory. In an interview Wednesday with Fox News’s Jesse Watters, Waltz … Full Story   On Tap Tomorrow  Events in and around the defense world:  The Brookings Institution will chat on artificial intelligence and security relations between the U.S. and China for an 8:30 a.m. online event. The Atlantic Council previews 2025 and the stories shaping the Americas for a 1 p.m. virtual event. The National Institute for Deterrence Studies hosts a 10 a.m. seminar on nuclear deterrence. The U.S. Naval War College talks on critical minerals and national security during a 10 a.m. online event.  What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets: Venezuela opposition leader Machado freed, movement says (Reuters) Donald Trump Jr.’s visit was ‘staged,’ says Greenland lawmaker (Politico)  Trending Today  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Bush gives Obama a belly tap at Carter funeral Former President Bush gave former President Obama a belly tap at the funeral on Thursday for the late President Carter, a moment caught on camera and … Read more 7 notable moments between VIPs at Carter’s funeral Former President Carter’s funeral service at Washington National Cathedral brought together all five living presidents and current and former officials … Read more  Opinions in The Hill Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: In Kursk, the Ukrainian invasion is backPete Hegseth fails to embody military professionalism Cold comfort: The latest attacks on America follow a familiar playbook  You're all caught up. 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