Trump imposes sanctions on ICC over alleged bias against Israel and US

On February 6, 2025, in Washington, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to its investigations involving United States personnel and Israeli officials. The ICC had attracted prominence after issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the wake of military actions in Gaza which resulted in significant casualties. Trump's executive order is a direct response to what he describes as the ICC's 'illegitimate and baseless actions' targeting America and Israel, asserting that the court lacks jurisdiction over either nation. The context surrounding this executive order underscores ongoing tensions between the United States and the ICC, an institution that operates independently from any national judicial system. Trump contended that the ICC's actions endanger the legal protections of U.S. military personnel and expand the court's powers at the expense of U.S. sovereignty. Previously, in his first term, he had initiated sanctions on the ICC after the court began considering investigations into alleged American war crimes in Afghanistan. The executive order not only bans ICC officials from entering the United States but also imposes financial sanctions on those who assist in ICC investigations against U.S. citizens or allies. This move by the Trump administration reflects its continued firm stance against international bodies that it believes overreach their mandates, particularly when actions could be construed as compromising the interests of the U.S. or its allies. Activists have expressed concerns that such sanctions could obstruct justice for victims of human rights violations. Trump's timing for the announcement coincided with Netanyahu's visit to Washington, aiming to solidify the relationship between the two nations amidst investigations that have attracted bipartisan criticism. The White House characterized the ICC's simultaneous pursuit of warrants for leaders of both Israel and Hamas as creating a 'shameful moral equivalency' that undermines Israel's right to self-defense. This latest executive order represents a significant escalation in the ongoing friction between the U.S. government and the ICC, aiming to deter actions perceived as hostile to the interests of American citizens and its allies.