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The International Criminal Court has pushed back against an executive order signed by President Trump that imposes sanctions on its officials in response to arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Some shit you should know: Last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of committing war crimes in Gaza, including using starvation as a method of warfare by restricting humanitarian aid and deliberately targeting civilians. In response, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on ICC officials involved in the investigation, arguing that the court had no jurisdiction over Israel, which is not a member of the ICC. The sanctions freeze any assets held in the US by affected individuals, bar them and their families from entering the country, and threaten further punitive measures against those cooperating with the court.
What’s going on now: In an announcement, the ICC condemned Trump’s executive order, calling it an attempt to undermine its “independent and impartial judicial work” and vowing to continue its mission to deliver justice for victims of atrocities. The court urged its 125 member states, civil society, and the global community to “stand united for justice and fundamental human rights.”
European leaders also denounced the sanctions, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating, “The ICC must be able to freely pursue the fight against global impunity. Europe will always stand for justice and the respect of international law.” French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine said that France “will mobilize to ensure that the court can continue fulfilling its mission in an impartial and independent way.”
In addition, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that weakening the court would be a “gift to Putin,” referencing the ICC’s role in holding Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for war crimes in Ukraine. The Netherlands, which hosts the ICC, also criticized Trump’s move, with Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp stating that “the court’s work is essential in the fight against impunity.”
