US President Donald Trump has now extended his major package of sanctions to the International Criminal Court – which has been slammed as an attempt to ‘harm its impartial judicial work’.
Mr Trump had signed an executive order to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court following The Hague’s investigations into Israel during its war with Hamas.
Neither the US nor Israel is a member of the ICC, nor recognises it.
The court previously issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes for his military response in Gaza.
According to the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 47,540 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli military and 1,200 Israelis were killed by the attacks from Hamas.
Trump’s latest decision is one which could further isolate the United States from international organisations – why?
Why has Trump sanctioned the ICC?
The White House issued the executive order on Thursday in response to what it called ‘illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel’.
It was referring to the arrest warrant the ICC issued last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The Hague-based court said it ‘condemns’ the move. The embattled court got plenty of support from traditional US allies in Europe who stood up against the measure.
‘Sanctioning the ICC threatens the court’s independence and undermines the international criminal justice system as a whole,’ said European Council president Antonio Costa, who heads the summits of the EU’s 27 leaders.
It was the toughest direct criticism of a decision by Mr Trump by a top EU official since he took office again last month.
The order signed by Mr Trump accuses the ICC of engaging in “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel” and of abusing its power by issuing “baseless arrest warrants” against Mr Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant.
“The ICC has no jurisdiction over the United States or Israel,” the order states, adding that the court had set a “dangerous precedent” with its actions against both countries.
The order says the US will impose “tangible and significant consequences” on those responsible for the ICC’s “transgressions.”
Actions may include blocking property and assets and not allowing ICC officials, employees and relatives to enter the United States.
The Treasury and State Department will determine which people and organisations will be sanctioned.
Human rights groups have criticised the decision.
What has the ICC said?
‘The court stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world,’ the court said in a statement.
‘We call on our 125 States Parties, civil society and all nations of the world to stand united for justice and fundamental human rights.’
German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kathrin Deschauer said: ‘The ICC is one of the greatest accomplishments of international criminal court. We as Germany support the ICC and will continue to do so.’
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the court ‘must be able to freely pursue the fight against global impunity. Europe will always stand for justice and the respect of international law’.
What’s next?
Court officials had been preparing for sanctions for months. In January, the court gave staff a three-month advance on their salaries, two court insiders told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
At least two senior staff members at the court have resigned since Mr Trump was elected to avoid sanctions.
Groups who work with the court have also expressed concern over the scope of the sanctions.
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