UK Government refuses to comment as Donald Trump sanctions ICC judges
France's government expressed 'dismay' that a French judge was among those sanctioned, saying the US actions were "in contradiction to the principle of an independent judiciary".
United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the sanctions undermine the foundation of international justice, adding: "The [US] decision imposes severe impediments on the functioning of the office of the prosecutor."
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And the ICC itself said it 'deplores' the sanctions, calling them "a flagrant attack" against the independence of an impartial judicial institution.
However, the UK Labour Government has refused to say anything at all.
Asked for a statement in response to the US sanctions, the Foreign Office declined to say anything on the record.
Donald Trump's administration has targeted Nicolas Yann Guillou of France, Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji, Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal, and Kimberly Prost of Canada, all of whom have been involved in cases linked to Israel and the United States.
The designations freeze any US assets the individuals may have and essentially cut them off from the US financial system.
"United States has been clear and steadfast in our opposition to the ICC's politicisation, abuse of power, disregard for our national sovereignty, and illegitimate judicial overreach," Rubio said.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of crimes against humanity by ICC prosecutorsGuillou is an ICC judge who presided over a pre-trial panel that issued the arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Khan and Niang are the court's two deputy prosecutors.
Canadian Judge Prost served on an ICC appeals chamber that, in March 2020, unanimously authorized the ICC prosecutor to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Afghanistan since 2003, including examining the role of US service members.
In February, when Trump threatened to sanction ICC officials who worked on cases against the US, the UK was one of 79 countries to sign a statement in support of the court's independence.
"We reaffirm our continued and unwavering support for the independence, impartiality and integrity of the ICC," the statement said.
READ MORE: UK Government-owned non-profit has over £1.4m contract with IDF-linked firm
"The court serves as a vital pillar of the international justice system by ensuring accountability for the most serious international crimes, and justice for victims."
At the time, the US also sanctioned British lawyer Karim Khan, the ICC's chief prosecutor.
Khan had successfully sought an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Netanyahu, who is also accused of spearheading genocide in Palestine by international experts, has been defended by Trump's administration.
The US president accused the ICC of having 'abused its power by issuing baseless warrants' against Israeli ministers.
Netanyahu welcomed the US decision to sanction four further ICC officials.
Neither Israel nor the US are signatories to the Rome Statute which established the ICC.
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Reuters
2 minutes ago
- Reuters
Netanyahu says Israel to resume Gaza negotiations to end war and free hostages
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Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Netanyahu says Israel to begin Gaza ceasefire negotiations to end war, release hostages
Aug 21 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he had directed the immediate initiation of negotiations for the release of all hostages in Gaza and the conclusion of the war there on terms acceptable to Israel.
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Netanyahu says he will give approval for Gaza City takeover despite protests
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The Media Freedom Coalition, which promotes press freedoms worldwide, called for Israel to allow independent, foreign news organisations access to Gaza. Aside from rare guided tours, Israel has barred international media from the war which has killed at least 184 Palestinian journalists and media workers. 'Journalists and media workers play an essential role in putting the spotlight on the devastating reality of war,' said a statement signed by 27 of the coalition's member countries. Witnesses, health officials and the UN human rights office say Israeli forces have killed hundreds of people since May as they headed towards sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israeli-backed American contractor, and in the chaos surrounding UN aid convoys, which are frequently attacked by looters and overrun by crowds. The Israeli military says it has only fired warning shots at people who approach its forces. The GHF says there has been almost no violence at the sites, and that its armed contractors have only used pepper spray and fired into the air on some occasions to prevent deadly crowding. The scene of Israeli military strikes in a tent camp for displaced people near Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) Israeli air strikes also destroyed a tent camp in Deir al-Balah, the only city in Gaza that has been relatively unscathed in the war and where many have sought refuge. Residents said the military warned them to flee shortly before the strikes set the camp ablaze, and there were no reports of casualties. Families, many with children, could later be seen sifting through the ashes for the belongings they had managed to take with them during earlier evacuations. Mohammad Kahlout, who had been displaced from northern Gaza, said they were given just five minutes to gather what they could and evacuate. 'We are civilians, not terrorists. What did we do, and what did our children do, to be displaced again?'
