Rudolph Angler U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that imposes sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). This comes after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Trump called the ICC’s actions “illegitimate and baseless.”
Both the U.S. and Israel do not recognize the ICC’s authority. This makes the situation a significant diplomatic issue.
Sanctions Target ICC Officials
Trump’s executive order stated that the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants against leaders of sovereign nations sets a dangerous precedent.
The sanctions will block property and assets. They will also prevent ICC officials and employees from entering the U.S. and restrict their financial transactions.
While Netanyahu visited Washington, he discussed the ICC’s actions with Trump and met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Pushback from Human Rights Groups and European Allies
Human rights organizations have expressed concern that these sanctions could hurt justice efforts worldwide. They argue that the sanctions could make it harder to investigate war crimes.
Charlie Hogle from the ACLU National Security Project said the order threatens free speech and could slow down investigations of atrocities.
Meanwhile, some European countries, including the Netherlands, have urged ICC member states to resist the sanctions to protect the court’s work.