Dozens of countries have voiced their “unwavering support” for the International Criminal Court (ICC) following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose sanctions on its staff.
A majority of the court’s member states, including the UK, Germany, and France, reaffirmed that the ICC is “a vital pillar of the international justice system.”
Trump announced the sanctions while hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to visit him since his return to power.
Last year, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza—claims Israel denies—as well as for a Hamas commander. The U.S. has strongly criticized the court, calling its actions a “shameful moral equivalency” between Israel and Hamas.
Neither the U.S. nor Israel recognizes the ICC’s authority. The court, the only global institution with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, has previously launched investigations into U.S. citizens.
The ICC has 125 member states worldwide, including the UK and numerous European nations.
On Friday, 79 countries, including the UK, France, and Germany, signed a joint statement condemning Trump’s executive order. However, Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Italy were notably absent.
What is the ICC and why has Trump sanctioned it?
Earlier on Friday, the ICC urged its member states and global civil society to “stand united for justice and fundamental human rights.”
The court pledged to continue “providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world.”
Last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants for U.S.-allied Israeli leaders and a Hamas commander in connection with the Gaza war.
ICC prosecutors have stated there are “reasonable grounds” to believe Netanyahu, his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas’s Mohammed Deif—who was killed last year—bear “criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
A White House memo circulated on Thursday accused the ICC of drawing a “shameful moral equivalency” between Hamas and Israel by issuing the warrants simultaneously.
Trump’s executive order argued that the ICC’s actions “set a dangerous precedent,” potentially infringing on U.S. sovereignty. The order claimed the court “undermines” the national security and foreign policy interests of Washington and its allies.
It further asserted that the U.S. and Israel “are thriving democracies with militaries that strictly adhere to the laws of war.” The sanctions were unveiled while Netanyahu was visiting Washington.
Trump Sanctions on International Criminal CourtThe list of affected individuals has not yet been disclosed, but sanctions could be imposed on those involved in ICC investigations. Potential measures include financial and visa restrictions on targeted individuals and their families.
The court’s technical operations, including evidence collection, could also be impacted. Some observers fear the move may deter victims of alleged atrocities from testifying.
The ICC’s first chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, emphasized to the BBC that the global response to Trump’s actions would be critical.
“It’s a challenge for all the state parties—for all of Europe, the UK, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, Australia—are they going to let Mr. Trump become the global president?” Ocampo said on the BBC’s Newshour program.
The United Nations has called for the sanctions to be reversed, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the ICC “must be able to freely pursue the fight against global impunity.”
However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar praised Trump’s executive order.
He argued that the ICC’s actions were “immoral and have no legal basis,” further claiming that the court was not operating “in accordance with international law.”
Can Trump really take ownership of Gaza?
The U.S. has consistently rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction over American officials or citizens. Washington has also accused the court of restricting Israel’s right to self-defense while neglecting Iran and anti-Israel groups.
During his first term, Trump imposed sanctions on ICC officials investigating potential U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan. This included travel bans and asset freezes against former chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.
Those sanctions were later lifted by President Joe Biden’s administration.
However, in the final weeks of his presidency, Biden also condemned the ICC’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu, calling it “outrageous” and asserting that there was no equivalence between Israel and Hamas.
In response to perceived threats against the ICC’s authority, nine countries—including South Africa and Malaysia—recently launched the Hague Group to defend the court and its rulings.
Trump’s latest executive order follows his controversial proposal for the U.S. to “take over” Gaza, relocate its Palestinian population, and transform the territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
After facing widespread condemnation from Arab leaders and the UN, Trump reaffirmed the proposal on Thursday via his Truth Social platform.
In recent years, the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, Taliban leaders for “persecuting Afghan girls and women,” and Myanmar’s military leader for crimes against Rohingya Muslims.