President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its investigations of Israel, a close U.S. ally. The U.S. and Israel do not recognize the court, which issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes related to the military response in Gaza following a Hamas attack in October 2023.
The executive order accuses the ICC of engaging in 'illegitimate and baseless actions' targeting the U.S. and Israel and abusing its power by issuing 'baseless arrest warrants' against Netanyahu and his former defense minister. It states that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the U.S. or Israel and criticizes the court for setting a 'dangerous precedent' with its actions against both countries.
The order outlines that the U.S. will impose consequences on those responsible for the ICC's actions, including blocking property and assets and restricting entry into the U.S. for ICC officials, employees, and their relatives. Human rights activists have raised concerns that these sanctions could hinder justice for victims of human rights abuses worldwide who rely on the ICC for accountability.
The U.S., like Israel, is not a member of the ICC and has expressed concerns about potential prosecution of U.S. officials by the court. In 2020, Trump sanctioned the ICC's chief prosecutor over an inquiry into war crimes in Afghanistan, but those sanctions were later lifted by President Joe Biden.
Sen. Lindsey Graham has been a vocal critic of the ICC and is now vowing to crush the court and any country that enforces the arrest warrant against Netanyahu. European countries have expressed support for the ICC and called for cooperation to mitigate the impact of potential sanctions.
The executive order could impact the ICC's operations by restricting travel for investigators and compromising technology used to safeguard evidence. Some European nations are urging ICC members to work together to ensure the court can continue its work.
