US Sanctions International Criminal Court Over Israel Probes

The Trump administration is preparing to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to its investigations into alleged Israeli actions. These sanctions are expected to target the entire court, not just individual judges, and could potentially sever the ICC's access to the global financial system. The move comes after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders.

U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton announced the impending sanctions, stating that the United States will not cooperate with an "illegitimate" investigation that targets American allies. He further asserted that the U.S. would take "all necessary measures to protect its citizens and those of its allies from this corrupt, out-of-control" court. The sanctions are intended to deter the ICC from pursuing cases against Israeli and American officials.

The ICC's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, has been investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Palestinian territories since 2014. This includes actions by Israeli forces and Palestinian militant groups. The court's decision to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leaders has drawn strong condemnation from Israel and the United States, which are not member states of the court.