The Trump administration has announced sanctions against four more officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for their efforts to prosecute Israeli and American personnel.
This announcement was made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and has received support from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who praised the US for countering what he deems a “false smear campaign” against Israel.
The designated individuals include Judge Nicolas Yann Guillou from France, who authorized arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Additionally, Nazhat Shameem Khan, deputy prosecutor from Fiji, and Mame Mandiaye Niang, another deputy prosecutor from Senegal, were sanctioned for upholding these warrants.
Furthermore, Judge Kimberly Prost of Canada faced sanctions for her ruling that supported the ICC’s investigation into US personnel in Afghanistan.
In response to the sanctions, the ICC condemned the move as a blatant attack on the independence of a judicial body that operates under the authority of 125 member states.
The ICC stated that these sanctions not only challenge the court’s independence but also affront the States Parties and the rules-based international order.
“It’s especially a disservice to the millions of victims worldwide,” added the court’s statement, reassuring that it would continue to operate within its legal framework despite external pressures.
Netanyahu’s comments on the sanctions highlighted them as a significant step in defense of Israel.
In a statement from his office, he expressed gratitude to Rubio for the decision, calling it a strong stance against the unjust targeting of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
“This is a firm step against the false smear campaign targeting the State of Israel and the IDF, and in favor of truth and justice,” Netanyahu asserted.
These latest sanctions come after an earlier set introduced by the Trump administration in June, which targeted four other ICC officials, two of whom were involved in the issuance of arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.
The sanctions have the effect of freezing any US assets belonging to the designated officials and blocking their entry into the United States.
The US and Israel view the ICC’s attempts to hold Israeli officials accountable as illegitimate due to Israel’s non-signatory status to the Rome Statute that established the court.
Additionally, the US does not recognize the Palestinian Authority as a sovereign state with the authority to pursue such actions.
Both nations have consistently denied the allegations against Netanyahu and Gallant.
Rubio reiterated the United States’ strong opposition to the ICC’s alleged politicization and actions, labeling the court as a national security threat.
He criticized it as using judicial powers as a tool of political warfare against the US and its allies, particularly Israel.
Rubio emphasized that it remains the US government’s policy to take necessary actions to protect its troops and uphold its sovereignty against the ICC’s perceived illegitimate actions.
He urged other countries that support the ICC, many of which have benefited from American sacrifices, to reconsider their stance on this organization.
The response from France was one of disapproval, particularly regarding the sanctions imposed on their jurist, Guillou.
A spokesperson from the French foreign ministry expressed concern that the sanctions contradict the principle of an independent judiciary.
This latest sanctioning follows previous actions taken in June, targeting judges Beti Hohler of Slovenia and Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin for their roles in the court proceedings related to Netanyahu and Gallant.
Also targeted were Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru and Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, who were involved in the investigation of alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan.
Earlier this year, chief ICC prosecutor Karim Khan found himself on the US sanctions list, preventing him from engaging in business with Americans and imposing travel restrictions into the US.
Khan has been on leave while facing allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Trump administration’s disdain for the court has historical roots going back to his first term when, in 2020, sanctions were placed on then-prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and her aide due to the court’s focus on Afghanistan.
While the Biden administration lifted those sanctions early in 2021, the current political climate suggests heightened tensions between the US and the ICC are far from resolved.
In a related event, President Donald Trump welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Alaska on Friday, despite Putin facing an ICC arrest warrant, which has limited his international travel since the invasion of Ukraine.
image source from：timesofisrael
