Trump signs imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT located at The Hague, NETHERLANDS
Donald Trump signed accuses the ICC of engaging in “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close friend Israel” U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (February 6, 2025) signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel, a close U.S. ally.
The order Mr. Trump signed accuses the ICC of engaging in “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel” and of abusing its power by issuing “baseless arrest warrants” against Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant.The ICC has no jurisdiction over the United States or Israel,” the order states, adding that the court had set a “dangerous precedent” with its actions against both countries Mr. Trump’s action came as Netanyahu was visiting Washington
ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes over his military response in Gaza after the Hamas attack against Israel in October 2023. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children, have been killed during the Israeli military’s response
Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Trump held talks at the White House, and Netanyahu spent some of meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.The order says the U.S. will impose “tangible and significant consequences” on those responsible for the ICC’s “transgressions.” Actions may include blocking property and assets and not allowing ICC officials, employees and relatives to enter the United States.Human rights activists said sanctioning court officials would have a chilling effect and run counter to U.S. interests in other conflict zones where the court is investigating.
“Victims of human rights abuses around the world turn to the International Criminal Court when they have nowhere else to go, and President Trump’s executive order will make it harder for them to find justice,” said Charlie Hogle, staff attorney with American Civil Liberties Union’s National Security Project.“The order also raises serious First Amendment concerns because it puts people in the United States at risk of harsh penalties for helping the court identify and investigate atrocities committed anywhere, by anyone.”Mr. Hogle said the order “is an attack on both accountability and free speech.”
“you can disagree with the court and the manner it operates, but this is beyond the light,” Sarah Yager, Washington director of Human Rights Watch, said in an interview previous to the announcement.Like Israel, the U.S. isn’t always a number of the courtroom’s 124 participants and has long harbored suspicions that a “international court” of unelected judges could arbitrarily prosecute U.S. officers
A 2002 law authorizes the Pentagon to liberate any American or U.S. ally held with the aid of the court docket. In 2020, Mr. Trump sanctioned leader prosecutor Karim Khan’s predecessor, Fatou Bensouda, over her selection to open an inquiry into war crimes committed by using all facets, including the U.S., in Afghanistan.but, those sanctions have been lifted under President Joe Biden, and the U.S. began to tepidly cooperate with the tribunal — especially after Mr. Khan in 2023 charged Russian President Vladimir Putin with war crimes