Fri Feb 07 10:11:50 UTC 2025: ## ICC Condemns US Sanctions Imposed by Trump Administration
**The Hague, Netherlands –** The International Criminal Court (ICC) has strongly condemned the sanctions imposed by the US government, calling them an attempt to undermine its independent work. The sanctions, announced by President Donald Trump on Thursday, target ICC officials involved in issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year.
The White House executive order cites the warrant, related to alleged war crimes in Gaza, as an “illegitimate and baseless action” against the US and its ally, Israel. The ICC, in a statement released Friday, rejected this characterization and pledged to continue its work. The court called on its 125 member states, civil society, and the international community to defend justice and fundamental human rights.
The sanctions include the potential blocking of assets, and restrictions on US entry for ICC officials, employees, and their families. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, criticized the move, arguing it would embolden perpetrators of atrocities and obstruct justice. Human Rights Watch’s Liz Evenson compared the action to similar tactics employed by Russia.
The ICC maintains its commitment to delivering justice for victims of atrocities worldwide, despite the US sanctions.
First Piper 