US Sanctions ICC Chief Judge Over Arrest Warrants Against Netanyahu

The United States imposed sanctions on Tuesday against the president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Japanese judge Tomoko Akane, and senior ICC prosecutor Abdullahi Seyi. This move escalates the Trump administration's confrontation with the ICC following arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions, accusing the two officials of direct involvement in efforts to investigate, arrest, or prosecute senior officials whose governments reject the ICC's jurisdiction. The sanctions freeze any US-based assets they may hold and cut them off from the American financial system.

This action follows similar sanctions imposed last year on ICC judges and prosecutors. Rubio indicated last month that the administration plans to increase pressure on the ICC and pursue diplomatic efforts to convince other countries to withdraw from the court. President Donald Trump stated that the campaign aims to protect Netanyahu and others from prosecution. Although the US is not a member of the ICC, the court claims jurisdiction over nationals of non-member states if alleged crimes occurred on the territory of a member state.