Washington, D.C./The Hague — The United States is preparing to impose sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) as soon as this week, a move that could disrupt the tribunal’s daily functions and escalate tensions over investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes, according to multiple diplomatic and government sources.
Washington has previously targeted individual ICC prosecutors and judges, but extending sanctions to the court as an entity would mark an unprecedented escalation. Six sources familiar with the matter said “entity sanctions” were under active consideration, with one U.S. official confirming that the option was being weighed.
A State Department spokesperson accused the court of asserting “purported jurisdiction” over U.S. and Israeli personnel, warning that further steps were imminent unless the ICC implemented “critical and appropriate structural changes.” The spokesperson said Washington was committed to defending U.S. service members and allies against what it views as politically motivated prosecutions.
ICC Braces for Fallout
Officials at The Hague-based court have held emergency meetings, with staff reportedly paid salaries in advance for the remainder of 2025 to prepare for potential financial disruptions. The ICC is also seeking alternative banking services and software suppliers in case sanctions restrict its access to routine operations.
The ICC has indicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and senior Hamas leaders over alleged crimes during the Gaza war. The United States, which is not an ICC member, has rejected the court’s jurisdiction, as has Israel.
Pushback at the United Nations
Diplomats from some of the ICC’s 125 member states are expected to raise objections to U.S. measures during the U.N. General Assembly in New York this week. Still, several Western diplomats said Washington appeared determined to escalate, with one senior envoy noting: “The road of individual sanctions has been exhausted. It is now more about when, rather than if, they will take the next step.”
Broader Context
The ICC, founded in 2002, is tasked with prosecuting genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed by citizens of member states or on member state territories. The court recognizes Palestine as a member, granting it jurisdiction over actions in Palestinian territories — a position the U.S. and Israel reject.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has branded the ICC “a national security threat” and an instrument of “lawfare” against the United States and its allies. In February, the White House sanctioned ICC prosecutor Karim Khan after he sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. Khan is currently on leave amid an unrelated misconduct probe, which he denies.
Source: Reuters
No comments: