In a significant move, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared that the US State Department will impose sanctions on four judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC). This decision follows the ICC's controversial issuance of arrest warrants for high-ranking Israeli officials, including former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and its ongoing investigation into alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan.
The four judges named in the sanctions are all women: Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza from Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou from Benin, and Beti Hohler from Slovenia. The sanctions entail blocking any property and interests that these judges own within the US, which must be reported to the Treasury Department.
The International Criminal Court has expressed its disapproval of the sanctions, stating that they represent a clear attempt to undermine the court's independence. The ICC emphasized that the measures taken against its judges do not assist civilians caught in conflict and are detrimental to those supporting the court's mission of accountability.
In response to the sanctions, Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked both Secretary Rubio and former President Donald Trump for their support, asserting that they have defended Israel's rights against the ICC's actions. Rubio criticized the judges, labeling their actions as "illegitimate" and "baseless," alleging that they specifically target the interests of the US and its allies, particularly Israel.
Rubio has characterized the ICC as a politicized entity that misuses its power to investigate the nationals of the US and its allies. He warned that such actions threaten the sovereignty and national security of the United States and its partner nations, including Israel. The Secretary of State's statements underline a broader discontent with the ICC’s approach to international justice.
The ICC is a global judicial body that prosecutes serious offenses such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Last year, it issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israel's former defense minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes committed during the conflict in Gaza. Additionally, an arrest warrant was issued for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, but it was later confirmed that he was killed in an airstrike.
The ICC's judges have indicated that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu, Gallant, and Deif bear criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Both Israel and Hamas have denied these allegations, further complicating the situation.
This latest announcement by the US State Department comes in the wake of previous sanctions imposed by President Trump against the ICC, including actions against its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan. These sanctions were justified by claims that the court had abused its power in its investigations.
Moving forward, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to its work, asserting that it will continue to pursue accountability without being deterred by external pressures. The ongoing tensions between the US, Israel, and the ICC highlight the complexities of international law and the challenges faced by global justice mechanisms.
