The International Criminal Court (ICC) expressed strong disapproval on Wednesday regarding the U.S. sanctions aimed at its senior officials, labeling the actions a “clear attack” on the court’s independence.
The sanctions targeted notable figures within the ICC, including the court’s president, Judge Tomoko Akane, and senior trial lawyer Mr. Abdullahi Say.
In a statement, the ICC remarked, “These sanctions are a flagrant attack on the independence of impartial judicial institutions that operate in accordance with mandates from States Parties across the region.”
The court noted that nine out of 18 judges, including two deputy prosecutors, a former prosecutor, and one staff member, are currently facing U.S. sanctions.
The ICC stressed that such measures “undermine the rule of law,” stating that when judicial officials are threatened, it jeopardizes the very fabric of the international legal order.
Officials from the court reassured their commitment to their staff and the victims of international crimes, asserting that they would continue to execute their mandate with independence and impartiality, as outlined in the Rome Statute.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions on Tuesday, characterizing them as part of a resolute effort to protect U.S. citizens from what he referred to as a “bogus court.”
Rubio claimed that these individuals were actively involved in the ICC’s investigations and prosecutions targeting officials from nations that haven’t consented to the ICC’s authority.
He further expressed intentions to dismantle the Hague-based court “brick by brick” using U.S. diplomatic efforts, including visa cancellations and travel bans, and to encourage the 125 member states to withdraw from the tribunal.
Balqis Jarrah, from Human Rights Watch, commented that the sanctions exemplify the Trump administration’s blatant disregard for international law, aiming to protect American and Israeli officials from accountability for serious offenses.
These sanctions come following the ICC’s attempts to prosecute Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for military actions taken during the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
The court formally charged Prime Minister Netanyahu in November 2024 for alleged war crimes in Gaza amid the Israeli-Hamas conflict, an accusation he dismissed, labeling it as anti-Semitism.
The U.S. has previously rejected ICC investigations concerning its military actions in Afghanistan, citing similar claims of war crimes.
Notably, the United States is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC and its jurisdiction, and Rubio has advocated for other nations to follow suit by distancing themselves from the court.
