Dozens of countries have voiced their “unwavering support” for the International Criminal Court (ICC) after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on its staff. A majority of ICC member states, including the UK, Germany, and France, defended the court as “a vital pillar of the international justice system.”
Trump announced the sanctions following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—the first foreign leader to visit him since regaining power. Last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and a Hamas commander over alleged war crimes in Gaza, a move Israel has rejected. The U.S. condemned the ICC’s “shameful moral equivalency” between Israel and Hamas.
Neither the U.S. nor Israel recognizes the ICC, the only international court with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The ICC has previously investigated American citizens as well. With 125 member states, including the UK and other European nations, the court continues to play a central role in international justice.
The UK, France, and Germany were among the 79 signatories of a joint statement condemning Trump’s executive order. However, Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Italy did not sign the statement.
Earlier on Friday, the ICC urged member states and global civil society to “stand united for justice and fundamental human rights,” pledging to continue “providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities worldwide.”
The ICC’s arrest warrants last year targeted U.S.-allied Israeli leaders and a Hamas commander for their roles in the Gaza war. Prosecutors stated that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas’s Mohammed Deif—who was killed last year—held “criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
A White House memo circulated Thursday accused the ICC of creating a “shameful moral equivalency” by issuing the warrants simultaneously for both Israeli and Hamas leaders. Trump’s order argued that the ICC’s actions “set a dangerous precedent” and “infringe upon U.S. sovereignty,” undermining Washington’s national security and foreign policy interests. The order emphasized that the U.S. and Israel are “thriving democracies with militaries that strictly adhere to the laws of war.”
The sanctions, announced during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, could target individuals involved in ICC investigations through financial and visa restrictions, potentially affecting their families. The court’s technical and IT operations—including evidence gathering—could also face disruption. Observers warn that victims of alleged atrocities might hesitate to testify due to the sanctions.
Former ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo told the BBC that the global response to Trump’s actions would be critical. He questioned whether countries such as the UK, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, and Australia would allow Trump to dictate international justice.
The United Nations has urged the U.S. to reverse the sanctions, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen insisted the ICC “must be able to freely pursue the fight against global impunity.” However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar praised Trump’s decision, calling the ICC’s actions “immoral” and “without legal basis.”
The U.S. has long rejected ICC jurisdiction over its officials and citizens, accusing the court of constraining Israel’s right to self-defense while ignoring threats from Iran and anti-Israel groups. During his first term, Trump sanctioned ICC officials investigating potential U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan, including travel bans and asset freezes against former chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda. Those sanctions were lifted under President Joe Biden’s administration.
However, Biden later criticized the ICC’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu, calling it “outrageous” and rejecting any equivalence between Israel and Hamas.
In response to perceived attacks on the ICC’s authority, nine nations—including South Africa and Malaysia—recently formed the Hague Group to defend the court and its rulings.
Trump’s executive order follows his controversial proposal for the U.S. to “take over” Gaza, resettle its Palestinian population, and turn the region into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” After backlash from Arab leaders and the United Nations, he reaffirmed the plan on his Truth Social platform Thursday.
In recent years, the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, Taliban leaders for persecuting Afghan women, and Myanmar’s military leadership for crimes against Rohingya Muslims.
Source: Swifteradio.com
