US to sanction ICC judges over actions targeting US, Israel
The US administration of President Donald Trump says it will impose sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court.
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant over the fighting in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement released on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC's illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or its close ally, Israel.
He went on to say two of the judges ruled to authorize the ICC's issuance of warrants targeting Netanyahu and Gallant.
Rubio said the ICC is politicized and that this abuse of power infringes upon the sovereignty and national security of the United States and its allies, including Israel.
In response, the ICC released a statement that says, "The ICC deplores the additional designations for sanctions which were announced today by the United States of four judges of the Court."
It also says these measures are a clear attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution.
It says the ICC stands fully behind its personnel and that it will continue its work undeterred with a view to bringing justice to victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression.
Trump has been intensifying attacks on the ICC. In February, he signed an executive order to allow sanctions on ICC employees and others.
A hundred and 25 countries and territories including Japan and Palestine are members of the ICC. The United States and Israel are not members. Japan's Akane Tomoko is the president of the court.
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