**ICC Condemns US Sanctions Targeting Judges and Prosecutors**

The sanctions, which target ICC judges and prosecutors, have sparked international condemnation, raising questions about judicial independence.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has expressed its disapproval of the new sanctions imposed by the United States on its judges and prosecutors, labeling the measures as detrimental to judicial independence. The US State Department announced the sanctions, affecting two judges and two prosecutors, claiming their actions to hold US and Israeli citizens accountable were politically motivated. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the ICC as a tool of "lawfare" and a threat to national security for both the US and Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu applauded the US actions, particularly in light of the ICC's arrest warrants against him and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes linked to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Concurrently, France criticized the sanctions, emphasizing their contradiction to judicial independence principles, particularly highlighting its own judge, Nicolas Guillou, among those targeted.

The ICC condemned the sanctions as an "affront against the rules-based international order," arguing that they undermine efforts to seek justice for millions of victims worldwide. Rubio's statement on the subject outlined what he termed the court's "abuse of power" and illegitimate judicial overreach, while the implications of the sanctions prevent the designated officials from accessing any US-based assets.

These events follow a series of US sanctions earlier this year against the ICC's chief prosecutor and other judges, raising alarms about the impact of such measures on the independence of international judicial processes. In response to the escalating tensions, the UN human rights chief urged the US to reconsider its decision, calling for respect for the rule of law.