President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague. The order comes in response to the ICC's issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in May 2024.
Richard Goldberg, a former Trump official, argues that the sanctions are necessary to protect American soldiers and officials from potential prosecution by what he describes as an international kangaroo court. Goldberg, now a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, believes that the ICC has overstepped its bounds and is using international law as a tool of warfare against the United States and Israel.
In a statement, the ICC condemned the executive order, stating that it seeks to impose sanctions on its officials and undermine its impartial judicial work. The Court reaffirmed its commitment to providing justice to victims of atrocities worldwide and called for support from its member states and the international community.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed gratitude for the executive order, praising President Trump for defending both America and Israel from what he perceives as a biased and corrupt court. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also voiced support for the sanctions, labeling the ICC as a biased political tool.
While dozens of countries have expressed support for the ICC, a group of nearly 80 nations issued a joint statement backing the court's independence and integrity. Notable signatories included France, Germany, and Britain, while countries like Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Italy were absent from the statement.
The executive order has sparked debate and drawn attention to the ongoing tensions between the United States, Israel, and the ICC. The future implications of these sanctions and their impact on international justice remain to be seen.
