US President, Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court, ICC), accusing the global tribunal of taking “illegitimate and baseless actions” against the United States and its ally, Israel.
DAILY POST had reported that the ICC, which has jurisdiction over war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The court also issued a warrant for a Hamas commander in connection with attacks on civilians.
Trump’s order imposes financial and visa restrictions on persons and their families who assist the ICC in investigating US citizens.
The move came as Netanyahu visited Washington, pointing out a coordinated response from both nations.
The US and Israel are not members of the ICC, but over 120 countries, including the UK, recognize its authority.
The Trump administration condemned the ICC for what it called a “shameful moral equivalency” in issuing warrants for both Israeli and Hamas officials at the same time.
The administration also warned that the court’s actions “set a dangerous precedent”, exposing American officials and military personnel to harassment, abuse, and possible arrest.
“This malign conduct threatens to infringe upon the sovereignty of the United States and undermines the critical national security and foreign policy work of the United States government and our allies, including Israel,” the executive order stated.
In recent years, the ICC has issued arrest warrants for leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Taliban officials for crimes against Afghan women, and Myanmar’s military leader over the persecution of Rohingya Muslims.
The US previously sanctioned the ICC in 2020 under Trump’s administration, though those sanctions were later lifted by President Joe Biden in 2021.