Fri Feb 07 14:42:23 UTC 2025: ## ICC Condemns US Sanctions as Attack on Justice
**The Hague, Netherlands** – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has strongly condemned US sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump, describing them as an attempt to undermine its independent work. The sanctions, announced Thursday, target ICC officials involved in investigations deemed to be targeting US interests and its ally, Israel, specifically citing the ICC’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The ICC statement denounced the move as an attack on international justice and called on its member states, civil society, and the global community to stand united in defense of human rights. The executive order authorizes the US to impose sanctions including asset freezes and travel bans on ICC personnel and their families.
The Trump administration’s actions have drawn widespread criticism. Human Rights Watch called the sanctions a “gift to those responsible for mass atrocities,” arguing that they punish those working to hold human rights abusers accountable. The organization also noted the move echoes similar tactics employed by Russia to obstruct the court’s operations.
The ICC has reportedly prepared for such sanctions for months, including advance salary payments to staff and at least two senior staff resignations since Trump’s election. The Netherlands, host country to the ICC, also condemned the sanctions, highlighting the court’s crucial role in combating impunity.
The sanctions are impacting the ICC’s operations, with advocacy groups reporting project delays and precautionary financial moves to protect themselves from the fallout. This is not the first time the US has targeted the ICC; similar sanctions were imposed during Trump’s previous term and later lifted by President Biden. The long-term implications of the latest sanctions remain to be seen, but the ICC has vowed to continue its work despite the pressure.
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