The International Criminal Court (ICC) has expressed strong opposition to recent sanctions imposed by the United States on its judges and prosecutors, labeling the actions as "deplorable." The US State Department announced these sanctions on Wednesday, targeting two judges and two prosecutors for their roles in prosecuting US and Israeli citizens. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the ICC as “an instrument of lawfare” directed against both the US and Israel, claiming it poses a "national security threat."
The sanctions are seen as a response to the ICC issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, linked to alleged war crimes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Netanyahu’s office praised the US action, framing it as a decisive counter to what he described as a "smear campaign" against Israel.
France has also joined the ICC in condemning the sanctions, expressing "dismay" particularly as one of its own judges, Nicolas Guillou, was affected by the measures. Other officials sanctioned include Canadian judge Kimberly Prost and deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan from Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang from Senegal.
Rubio condemned what he termed the ICC’s "politicisation" and "illegitimate judicial overreach," in defense of the sanctions. The ICC, a court that holds jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, referred to the sanctions as "a flagrant attack" on its independence and a breach of the international rules-based order.
France’s foreign ministry criticized the sanctions as incompatible with the principles of an independent judiciary, reflecting broader concerns over the implications of such actions.
The penalties mean that the four officials will face restrictions on accessing any properties or interests they hold in the United States. This escalation follows similar sanctions placed on ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan and four other judges earlier this year.
The UN human rights chief has called for the US to rescind these sanctions, stressing they undermine respect for the rule of law globally. This situation escalates tensions between the US, the ICC, and nations advocating for accountability in international law. In July, the US also sanctioned UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her vocal criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza.
In light of these developments, Albanese reiterated her support for the ICC through social media, invoking the court's origins in her home country of Italy and underscoring the sacrifices made by legal professionals in the pursuit of justice.
The sanctions are seen as a response to the ICC issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, linked to alleged war crimes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Netanyahu’s office praised the US action, framing it as a decisive counter to what he described as a "smear campaign" against Israel.
France has also joined the ICC in condemning the sanctions, expressing "dismay" particularly as one of its own judges, Nicolas Guillou, was affected by the measures. Other officials sanctioned include Canadian judge Kimberly Prost and deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan from Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang from Senegal.
Rubio condemned what he termed the ICC’s "politicisation" and "illegitimate judicial overreach," in defense of the sanctions. The ICC, a court that holds jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, referred to the sanctions as "a flagrant attack" on its independence and a breach of the international rules-based order.
France’s foreign ministry criticized the sanctions as incompatible with the principles of an independent judiciary, reflecting broader concerns over the implications of such actions.
The penalties mean that the four officials will face restrictions on accessing any properties or interests they hold in the United States. This escalation follows similar sanctions placed on ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan and four other judges earlier this year.
The UN human rights chief has called for the US to rescind these sanctions, stressing they undermine respect for the rule of law globally. This situation escalates tensions between the US, the ICC, and nations advocating for accountability in international law. In July, the US also sanctioned UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her vocal criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza.
In light of these developments, Albanese reiterated her support for the ICC through social media, invoking the court's origins in her home country of Italy and underscoring the sacrifices made by legal professionals in the pursuit of justice.
