President Donald Trump has recently signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court, alleging "illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel." This order entails financial and visa restrictions on individuals and families who support ICC investigations involving American citizens or allies.
The move follows the US House of Representatives' decision in January to place sanctions on the ICC after it issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations of war crimes in Gaza, which Israel denies. Additionally, the ICC issued a warrant for a Hamas commander.
Expressing regret at any attempts to undermine the court's independence, integrity, and impartiality, the ICC reiterated its stance. Notably, the United States, a non-member, has consistently rejected the ICC's jurisdiction over its officials or citizens.
The executive order highlights that the ICC's recent actions have set a concerning precedent, potentially leading to the harassment, abuse, and arrest of Americans. The White House claims that these actions threaten US sovereignty, national security, and foreign policy efforts, including those involving Israel.
Accusing the ICC of equating Hamas and Israel, the White House argues that the warrants issued for Israeli leaders and a Hamas commander simultaneously indicate a biased stance. They assert that the ICC is impeding Israel's right to self-defense while overlooking Iran and anti-Israel entities.
President Trump has frequently criticized the ICC and has previously taken measures to sanction the institution during his tenure. Sanctions were also imposed on ICC officials investigating alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan.
In response, the ICC condemned the sanctions as an unacceptable intrusion into the rule of law. Established in 2002 to investigate alleged atrocities post-July 2002, the court acts as a last-resort entity when national authorities fail to prosecute.
Notably, neither the US nor Israel are signatories to the Rome Statute governing the ICC. The order affirms both nations as democratic entities with armed forces adhering strictly to laws of war.
Trump's successor, Joe Biden, also criticized the ICC's warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, labeling the move as "outrageous" and dismissing any equivalence between Israel and Hamas.
Furthermore, Trump's recent executive order follows Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's visit to Washington. During a joint press conference, Trump suggested the US might "take over" Gaza, envisioning it as the "Riviera of the Middle East." This claim was reiterated on his social media platform, where he proposed transferring the Gaza Strip to the US post-conflict, with no US troops deployed and Palestinian resettlement.
Reactions to this proposal have been varied, with Arab leaders, human rights organizations, and the UN condemning the idea.