Former President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to its arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, escalating tensions between the US and the global tribunal.
The ICC, which neither the US nor Israel recognizes, accused Netanyahu of war crimes over Israel’s military response in Gaza following the Hamas attack in October 2023. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties, including children.
“The ICC has no jurisdiction over the United States or Israel,” the order states, condemning the court for setting a “dangerous precedent” with its warrants against Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. Trump’s action comes as Netanyahu visits Washington, where he met with lawmakers after White House talks earlier in the week.
Sanctions and political fallout
The executive order threatens severe penalties on those involved with the ICC’s prosecution of Israeli leaders, including asset freezes and travel bans for ICC officials and their families. Critics argue these measures will hinder international accountability efforts.
“Victims of human rights abuses turn to the ICC when they have nowhere else to go,” said Charlie Hogle of the ACLU. “This order undermines justice and free speech.”
Congress divided over ICC’s role
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a key figure in shifting US policy toward cautious ICC engagement, now vows to “crush the court” after its move against Netanyahu.
“This is a rogue court,” Graham said in December. “I never imagined they’d go after Israel, which has one of the most independent legal systems on the planet.”
The ICC previously charged Russian President Vladimir Putin with war crimes in Ukraine, a move the US welcomed. However, the court’s expansion of cases to Israel and Palestine has reignited bipartisan skepticism in Washington.
ICC’s survival at stake?
The sanctions could cripple ICC operations by restricting travel and access to US technology. The court, already reeling from a cyberattack last year, faces mounting resistance from European allies who now seek countermeasures to ensure its continued functioning.
The US has had a complicated relationship with the ICC since its founding under the Rome Statute in 1998. Trump previously sanctioned ICC officials in 2020 over investigations into US actions in Afghanistan—penalties later lifted by President Joe Biden. With Trump now doubling down on the ICC’s credibility, the court finds itself at a crossroads in global justice.