Washington — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has condemned the latest sanctions imposed by the United States against its senior officials, describing the move as a blatant attempt to intimidate the court and undermine international law.
The sanctions, announced on Tuesday by the Trump administration, targeted two ICC judges and two deputy prosecutors from Canada, France, Fiji, and Senegal. Their assets in the US have been frozen, and financial dealings with American institutions are prohibited. Washington justified the action by claiming the court represents a “threat to US sovereignty” due to its investigations into alleged war crimes committed by American and Israeli personnel.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled the ICC a “political weapon,” asserting that it was being manipulated to serve hostile agendas. He argued that neither the US nor Israel has ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, and therefore the court holds no jurisdiction over their citizens.
The ICC, however, strongly rejected these assertions, issuing a statement that called the sanctions a direct attack on the independence of its judiciary. Officials warned that such measures undermine not only the court’s mandate but also the broader framework of international accountability, which was established after World War II to prevent impunity for the world’s most serious crimes.
Diplomatic observers noted that this is the second time in recent months that Washington has targeted ICC officials. Earlier this year, the US sanctioned another set of judges for authorizing probes into Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and American actions in Afghanistan. Human rights organizations have described these measures as an attempt to shield both Israel and the US from scrutiny, while simultaneously weakening the rule of law in global institutions.
According to the BBC, the ICC reiterated that it will continue its work “undeterred” and described the American measures as an “affront to international justice.” The report noted that the sanctions stem from an executive order signed by US President Trump in February, granting the White House sweeping powers to restrict and punish ICC officials engaged in cases against US allies.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has moved to tear down the wall of impunity surrounding Washington’s most notorious ally, Israel, by issuing arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials directly responsible for the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The court denounced Israel’s campaign of systematic slaughter, bombing hospitals, leveling schools, and massacring families in refugee camps, as nothing short of state-orchestrated terrorism.
The ICC also aimed at the United States, accusing Washington of enabling these crimes through weapons shipments, diplomatic cover, and economic backing, making the US complicit in one of the gravest atrocities of the modern era. By targeting both the executioners in Tel Aviv and their shield in Washington, the court underscored that international justice will not bow to Western hypocrisy.
