Washington has previously targeted judges and prosecutors for pursuing cases against American soldiers and Israeli officials
Citing six individuals familiar with the situation, Reuters reported Monday that the U.S. is considering sanctioning the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its entirety. This would represent the most drastic escalation to date in the U.S.’s opposition to the court.
While the U.S. has already imposed sanctions on specific judges and prosecutors, extending these sanctions to the entire court could severely disrupt its operations. This includes hindering its ability to pay employee salaries, access banking services, and utilize essential software. According to a U.S. official, sanctions on the entire entity are being considered, though no final decision has been made.
This pressure campaign against the court, based in The Hague, follows the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The warrants cite alleged war crimes in Gaza, alongside charges against members of Hamas.
According to three sources, the ICC is already preparing for potential sanctions. Measures include paying staff salaries in advance through the end of 2025 and seeking alternative providers for banking and office software. Court officials have held emergency meetings, both internally and with diplomats from member states, to assess the potential consequences.
The possibility of broader sanctions has generated opposition among the ICC’s 125 member nations. Several of these countries intend to voice their concerns at the United Nations General Assembly this week, according to three diplomats who spoke with Reuters. “The road of individual sanctions has been exhausted. It is now more about when, rather than if, they will take the next step,” one senior diplomat said.
Established in 2002 under the Rome Statute, the ICC’s purpose is to prosecute genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The court recognizes Palestine as a member, which it asserts grants it jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed in Gaza. Israel and the U.S. dispute this interpretation and do not acknowledge the court’s jurisdiction.
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