On Friday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) called on its member states to resist the sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump, stating that these sanctions were an attempt to undermine the court’s independent and impartial judicial work.
The White House issued an executive order on Thursday, in response to what it labeled as “illegitimate and baseless actions” that targeted the U.S. and its close ally, Israel. This was in reference to the ICC’s arrest warrant issued last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The Hague-based court condemned the sanctions, affirming its stance: “The Court stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world.” The ICC also stated, “We call on our 125 States Parties, civil society, and all nations of the world to stand united for justice and fundamental human rights.”
The executive order outlined that the U.S. would impose “tangible and significant consequences” on those responsible for the ICC’s “transgressions,” including measures like blocking property and assets and barring ICC officials, their families, and employees from entering the U.S.
The U.S. Treasury and State Department were tasked with determining which individuals and organizations would be sanctioned.
Human rights organizations have strongly condemned the U.S. decision. Liz Evenson, the international justice director at Human Rights Watch, remarked, “US sanctions against ICC officials would be a gift to those around the globe responsible for mass atrocities. Sanctions are for human rights violators, not those working to hold rights abusers to account.”
Evenson added, “Trump’s executive order borrows a page out of Russia’s playbook, which has sought to obstruct the court’s work through arrest warrants against its judges and prosecutor.”
Court officials had been preparing for such sanctions for months. In January, the ICC provided its staff with a three-month advance on their salaries, according to two court insiders who spoke to The Associated Press anonymously.
At least two senior ICC staff members resigned since Trump’s election, seeking to avoid the impact of sanctions.
The Netherlands, the host country for the ICC, also condemned Trump’s actions. Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp expressed the country’s disapproval, stating, “The Netherlands regrets the executive order imposing sanctions on the ICC. The court’s work is essential in the fight against impunity.”
Dutch officials confirmed that the Netherlands has been working to mitigate the impact of these sanctions on the ICC.
Organizations collaborating with the ICC have expressed concerns over the far-reaching implications of the sanctions. One advocacy group leader noted, “We just have put every project on hold, because we don’t know what the sanctions will mean.” Another revealed they were moving money out of U.S.-based bank accounts as a precaution.
This marks the second time that Trump has targeted the ICC. During his previous term, he imposed sanctions on former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and one of her deputies for their investigation into crimes committed in Afghanistan. President Joe Biden lifted these sanctions upon taking office in 2021.
