The executive order sanctions ICC officials involved in war crime investigations regarding American and Israeli citizens, escalating tensions between the US and the international court.
Trump Imposes Sanctions on International Criminal Court Over War Crime Warrants
Trump Imposes Sanctions on International Criminal Court Over War Crime Warrants
In a controversial move, President Trump signs an executive order targeting the ICC in response to its arrest warrants.
President Donald Trump has officially signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of bias against the United States and Israel. This latest measure restricts financial assets and visa access for individuals and their families who are implicated in ICC investigations concerning American citizens or allies.
The announcement comes in light of recent actions by the ICC, which issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, over allegations of war crimes in Gaza—claims that Israel firmly denies. The ICC also targeted a commander from Hamas with a warrant.
Following these developments, the US House of Representatives expressed its discontent by voting to sanction the ICC. The court responded to the backlash, stating it "regrets any attempts to undermine the court's independence, integrity, and impartiality."
President Trump's order criticizes the Hague-based court for establishing a "shameful moral equivalency" between Israel and Hamas, arguing that the warrants issued for both parties hinder Israel's right to self-defense while neglecting Iran and groups opposed to Israel.
During his first term, Trump also enforced sanctions against ICC officials investigating allegations of war crimes by US forces in Afghanistan, which further highlights the growing rift between the US and the court.
In its defense, the ICC asserted that these sanctions are "an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law." Established in 2002 to address international atrocities, the ICC operates as a last resort, intervening only when national courts are unable or unwilling to prosecute.
Both the US and Israel have refrained from becoming parties to the Rome Statute, which formalized the ICC. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden criticized the ICC’s recent warrants for Israeli leaders, labeling them "outrageous" and emphasizing that such warrants create a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas.
