The Donald Trump administration could impose sanctions on the entire International Criminal Court (ICC). The move is a response to the ICC’s investigation into Israeli war crimes in Gaza that have led to an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Reuters reports speaking with six sources who confirmed that the White House is discussing expanding sanctions on the ICC to include the entire entity. The move could impact day-to-day operations at the Hague, such as its ability to pay staff. The sanctions are a response to the ICC investigation into the Israeli onslaught in Gaza that has led to the arrest warrant for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
A spokesperson for the State Department told the outlet that the sanctions will be imposed unless the ICC undergoes reforms. “It (the ICC) has the opportunity to change course by making critical and appropriate structural changes. The US will take additional steps to protect our brave service members and others as long as the ICC continues to present a threat to our national interests,” they said.
The US has a history of targeting the ICC for investigating war crimes committed by the US and Israel. In 2002, the US adopted the Hague Invasion Act, which allows for the President to deploy forces to free any American or allied citizens arrested by the ICC.
The US and Israel have not signed the charter that formed the ICC, and argue that Americans and Israelis who commit war crimes should not be subjected to the Hague’s jurisdiction. However, President Joe Biden worked with the court in an effort to prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow is also not a member of the ICC.
During Trump’s first administration, he blacklisted ICC prosecutors investigating Israel and US war crimes committed in Afghanistan.
Some members of the ICC plan to lobby Trump against sanctioning the court at this week’s UN summit.
