In The Hague, the International Criminal Court (ICC) urged its member states to resist sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump, characterizing the action as an attempt to undermine its independent and impartial judicial processes.
The White House issued an executive order on Thursday, citing what it termed “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel,” referring to the ICC’s warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrest on alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The ICC denounced the sanctions, affirming its commitment to its staff and its dedication to delivering justice to victims of atrocities worldwide. The court issued a statement pledging to continue its work.
The ICC called upon its 125 member states, civil society, and the global community to uphold justice and fundamental human rights.
The order detailed that the U.S. would impose significant consequences on those deemed responsible for the ICC’s alleged transgressions. These could include asset freezes and travel bans for ICC officials, employees, and their relatives.
The Treasury and State Departments will identify the individuals and organizations subject to sanctions.
Human rights groups criticized the decision. Human Rights Watch’s international justice director, Liz Evenson, stated that sanctions against ICC officials would hinder efforts to hold perpetrators of mass atrocities accountable, asserting that sanctions should target human rights violators, not those seeking justice.
Evenson drew parallels between Trump’s executive order and Russia’s attempts to obstruct the court’s work.
Court officials had anticipated sanctions for months. According to two anonymous court insiders who spoke to the Associated Press, the court had advanced staff salaries by three months in January.
At least two senior staff members resigned since Trump’s election to avoid potential sanctions.
The Netherlands, the ICC’s host nation, also condemned Trump’s order, stating the court’s work is crucial in combating impunity.
Dutch officials indicated efforts to help the court mitigate the impact of the sanctions.
Organizations collaborating with the court expressed concern over the sanctions’ scope. One advocacy group leader, speaking anonymously to the AP, reported halting projects due to uncertainty, while another revealed moving funds out of U.S. banks as a precaution.
This marks the second time Trump targeted the court. During his previous term, he imposed sanctions on former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and a deputy over the Afghanistan investigation; President Biden lifted these sanctions in 2021.