US president Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The order accuses the ICC of having “engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions” targeting the US and its “close ally” Israel, and said the court “abused its power” by issuing “baseless” arrest warrants targeting Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and its former defence minister, Yoav Gallant.
Neither the United States nor Israel is a member of or recognises the court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu for alleged war crimes for his military response in Gaza after the October 7th attacks in 2023.
“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.
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The order says the US 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 US interests in other conflict zones where the court is investigating.
Amnesty International secretary general Agnès Callamard condemned the order as “vindictive”.
“It is aggressive. It is a brutal step that seeks to undermine and destroy what the international community has painstakingly constructed over decades, if not centuries: global rules that are applicable to everyone and aim to deliver justice for all,” she said.
Mr Netanyahu applauded Mr Trump’s move, extending his thanks to the US president in a post on X. “Thank you, President Trump, for your bold ICC Executive Order,” he said,
“It will defend America and Israel from the anti-American and antisemetic corrupt court that has no jurisdiction or basis to engage in lawfare against us.”
The 125-member ICC is a permanent court that can prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression against the territory of member states or by their nationals. The United States, China, Russia and Israel are not members.
The court has taken measures to shield staff from possible US sanctions, paying salaries three months in advance, as it braced for financial restrictions that could cripple the war crimes tribunal, sources told Reuters last month.
In December, the court’s president, judge Tomoko Akane, warned that sanctions would “rapidly undermine the court’s operations in all situations and cases, and jeopardise its very existence”.
Russia has also taken aim at the court. In 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for president Vladimir Putin, accusing him of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine.
Russia has banned entry to ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan and placed him and two ICC judges on its wanted list.
Elsewhere, Mr Trump has doubled down on his proposal to “take ownership” of Gaza amid widespread opposition. In a Truth Social post, Mr Trump said the Palestinian territory would be “turned over” to the US by Israel after it concludes its military offensive against Hamas.
Mr Netanyahu, who is in Washington, said it is “worth listening carefully” to Mr Trump’s proposal.
Countries around the world continued to come out in opposition to Trump’s plan to turn Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East” after the 2.3 million Palestinians living there were transferred to other countries.
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, ordered the military to prepare plans to allow Palestinians “who wish to leave” Gaza to exit.
Asked who should take the residents of Gaza, Mr Katz said it should be countries who have opposed Israel’s military operations since the October 7th attacks.
He also claimed that Spain, Ireland, and Norway, who all last year recognised a Palestinian state, are “legally obligated to allow any Gaza resident to enter their territories”. – Agencies
