ICC Condemns US Sanctions Targeting Its Judges and Prosecutors

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has condemned recent US sanctions on its judges and prosecutors, characterizing them as a significant threat to its independence. The sanctions come amid ongoing tensions regarding investigations into alleged war crimes involving the US and Israel. Responses from global entities highlight the growing rift surrounding the court's authority.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has vocally criticized the United States for imposing new sanctions on its judges and prosecutors, stating that it "deplores" the measures which were announced on Wednesday. This week, the US State Department revealed sanctions on two judges and two prosecutors following their involvement in prosecuting US and Israeli citizens.

Speaking on the matter, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the ICC as "an instrument of lawfare" and expressed concerns over it being a "national security threat" to both the US and Israel. His remarks align with sentiments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who supported the sanctions—viewing them as a decisive response to what he termed a "mendacious smear campaign" against Israel. The ICC, which has issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, finds itself at the center of these geopolitical tensions.

France has joined the ICC in denouncing the US sanctions, expressing "dismay" over the targeting of one of its judges, Nicolas Guillou. Rubio's statement condemned what he referred to as "politicisation, abuse of power, and illegitimate judicial overreach" within the ICC. The court, established to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, labeled the sanctions as a "flagrant attack" on its independence, further stating that they offend the international rules-based order and impinge on justice for millions of victims worldwide.

In total, the sanctions affect four ICC officials: Nicolas Guillou from France, Canadian judge Kimberly Prost, and deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan from Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang from Senegal. The US sanctions mean that any assets or interests these officials possess in the US will be blocked.

This latest wave of sanctions follows a previous set targeting ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan KC and four judges earlier this year. The UN's human rights chief previously urged the US to rescind the sanctions, emphasizing that they undermined the rule of law. In addition, the US recently sanctioned Francesca Albanese, a UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur and critic of Israel's military actions in Gaza, citing her participation in decisions linked to ICC prosecutions against American and Israeli nationals.

Albanese responded by reaffirming her support for the ICC, invoking Italy's tradition of striving for justice despite the potential personal cost involved. The ongoing situation highlights a growing divergence in international relations concerning the validity and independence of the ICC's mandates.