US imposes sanctions on ICC judges

(MENAFN) The United States has announced sanctions against four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing them of taking “illegitimate and baseless actions” targeting the US and Israel. The ICC, recognized by 123 countries, does not include the US, Russia, China, or Israel among its members and depends on states to enforce its rulings.

Earlier this year, the US sanctioned the ICC and its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, after the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. In a statement on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio identified the sanctioned judges as Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza (Peru), Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou (Benin), and Beti Hohler (Slovenia).

Rubio criticized the ICC as “politicized” and accused it of overstepping its authority by attempting to investigate and prosecute US citizens and allies, calling this a “dangerous abuse of power.” The sanctions, imposed under Executive Order 14203, restrict the judges’ access to the US financial system and complicate their international dealings.

The ICC issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza following a deadly 2023 Hamas attack. Israel, not a party to the ICC’s Rome Statute, rejects the court’s jurisdiction over its nationals. Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, condemned the ICC as a political tool used against Israel.

Meanwhile, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan recently took a leave of absence amid a UN inquiry into sexual misconduct allegations.

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