Trump imposes sanctions on ICC over Israel, US war crime probes

President Donald Trump issued sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday, condemning its investigations into alleged war crimes by the United States and Israel as “illegitimate and baseless.” The White House announced that Trump’s executive order would freeze assets and impose travel bans on ICC officials, employees, and their family members, as well as anyone assisting the court’s investigations.

The move follows an arrest warrant issued by the ICC for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had met with Trump two days earlier. The tribunal has accused Netanyahu and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation as a weapon during the Gaza war. The court also issued a warrant for Hamas’ military chief Mohammed Deif, whom Israel claims is dead. Netanyahu has called the court’s actions “anti-Semitic.”

Trump’s sanctions reinforce US support for Israel and align with his administration’s broader opposition to the ICC. In 2020, his administration imposed similar measures against ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda after she launched an investigation into alleged war crimes by US troops in Afghanistan. While President Joe Biden lifted those sanctions in 2021, his administration has also condemned the ICC’s actions against Netanyahu.

The Netherlands, which hosts the ICC, criticized Trump’s latest sanctions, with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp stating that “the court’s work is essential in the fight against impunity.”

The US House passed a bill last month to impose further sanctions on the ICC, but Senate Democrats blocked it, warning it could backfire on US allies and businesses. However, there has been bipartisan outrage in Washington over the ICC’s decision to target Netanyahu.