The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on four judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to the court’s investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Israel during its conflict with Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank. The sanctions, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, include freezing any U.S.-based assets of the judges from Benin, Peru, Slovenia, and Uganda. Rubio accused the ICC of conducting “illegitimate and baseless actions” targeting the U.S. and its allies, particularly Israel, asserting that the court’s claims infringe on national sovereignty and security.
This latest move follows the previous sanctioning of ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan, who faced restrictions due to the court’s investigations, notably including an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu related to alleged war crimes. The ICC swiftly condemned the sanctions, stating that they undermine the independence of international judicial institutions.
The targeted judges have each played significant roles in ICC cases related to Israel. For instance, Reine Alapini-Gansou issued the arrest warrant for Netanyahu and participated in the investigation into alleged Israeli misconduct in Palestinian territories. Other judges, such as Beti Hohler, have faced objections from Israel due to their affiliations with the court.
Neither the U.S. nor Israel is a member of the ICC, which has pursued investigations into actions involving U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Israeli military operations. Rubio emphasized that the U.S. will continue to defend its interests and those of its allies against any ICC actions deemed illegitimate. Human Rights Watch criticized the sanctions as an attempt to stifle accountability for alleged atrocities, asserting that they pose a threat to the rule of law.
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