Washington, D.C., June 6, 2025 — In a significant escalation of tensions with the International Criminal Court (ICC), the United States has imposed sanctions on four ICC judges following the court's issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The move underscores the U.S. government's staunch opposition to the ICC's actions against its allies.apnews.com+10aljazeera.com+10politico.com+10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions, stating that the targeted judges—Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza (Peru), Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou (Benin), and Beti Hohler (Slovenia)—had either authorized or supported investigations into alleged war crimes by Israeli officials in Gaza and U.S. personnel in Afghanistan. Rubio criticized the ICC for what he termed "illegitimate actions" that infringe upon U.S. and Israeli sovereignty. politico.com+3theguardian.com+3reuters.com+3theguardian.com+2ft.com+2apnews.com+2
The sanctions entail asset freezes and travel bans for the judges, marking a continuation of the Trump administration's hardline stance against the ICC. This follows earlier sanctions imposed on ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, who is currently on leave amid a sexual misconduct investigation.
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The ICC has condemned the sanctions, asserting that they undermine judicial independence and global efforts for accountability. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have also criticized the U.S. actions as assaults on international justice. theguardian.com+1reuters.com+1apnews.com
The European Union has expressed concern over the U.S. measures, with officials considering invoking a "blocking statute" to shield EU entities from what they view as unjust U.S. sanctions. This development adds strain to U.S.-EU relations ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, where the ICC is headquartered. politico.com
The sanctions come amid heightened scrutiny of Israel's military actions in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. The ICC's arrest warrants accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of serious crimes, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare and other crimes against humanity. theguardian.com+10ft.com+10aljazeera.com+10
As the U.S. continues to challenge the ICC's jurisdiction and actions, the international community watches closely, concerned about the implications for global justice and the rule of law.theguardian.com+4politico.com+4nypost.com+4
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