U.S. Enforces Sanctions on Four ICC Officials

(MENAFN) The U.S. Department of State announced on Wednesday new sanctions targeting four current officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for their direct involvement in investigations, arrests, detentions, or prosecutions of U.S. and Israeli nationals without the consent of either country.

Among those sanctioned are two ICC judges who authorized the probe into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan and approved arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Additionally, two ICC deputy prosecutors were sanctioned for their continued backing of what the U.S. labels illegitimate ICC actions against Israel, including upholding the controversial arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, the State Department stated.

“As a result of today's sanctions-related actions, all property and interests in property of the sanctioned persons described above that are in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC),” the State Department declared.

On Wednesday, the ICC issued a statement saying, "these sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution which operates under the mandate from 125 States Parties from all regions. They constitute also an affront against the Court's States Parties, the rules-based international order and, above all, millions of innocent victims across the world."

On the same day, France expressed strong disapproval of the U.S. sanctions, conveying its dismay in an official statement. The country also reaffirmed its firm support for the ICC and its personnel, standing in solidarity with the judges who were targeted.

This action continues a pattern, as the U.S. previously sanctioned four ICC judges on June 5.

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