Fri Feb 07 19:18:35 UTC 2025: ## 79 Countries Condemn US Sanctions on International Criminal Court

**The Hague, Netherlands** – Seventy-nine countries have condemned the US government’s sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), warning that the move undermines international law and risks impunity for serious crimes. The statement, released Friday and spearheaded by Slovenia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Sierra Leone, and Vanuatu, includes support from major world powers such as the UK, France, Germany, Canada, and Brazil.

The sanctions, imposed by President Trump via executive order, target ICC officials, employees, and their families involved in investigating alleged war crimes in Israel. The order includes asset freezes and travel bans. The statement emphasizes that these actions increase the risk of impunity for serious crimes and threaten the international rule of law. Concerns were raised about jeopardizing the confidentiality of sensitive information and the safety of witnesses and court officials.

The ICC recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, along with Hamas leaders, for alleged war crimes. The US, long a vocal critic of the court’s investigations involving its allies, considers these investigations illegitimate.

The statement highlights the unprecedented challenges the ICC now faces. Human Rights Watch’s Israel-Palestine director, Omar Shakir, condemned the sanctions, stating they place the US on the side of war criminals at the expense of victims. He urged states to defend the ICC’s work in ensuring accountability.

The Netherlands, host country to the ICC, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the court and ensuring its continued operation despite the sanctions. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof described the US action as a “disturbing signal” with potentially significant implications for the court’s independence. The joint statement underscores the global opposition to the sanctions and the widespread belief that the actions threaten the very foundation of international justice.

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