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Donald Trump has placed sanctions against international officials of the criminal court who investigate the United States and its allies such as Israel, reintroducing a policy of his first mandate.
In an executive decree signed Thursday, the American president has placed financial sanctions and blocked visas for ICC employees and their families, in a decision that coincided with the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. The order also applies to managers who investigate American citizens.
The White House did not immediately appoint the officials who were sanctioned.
The order indicates that the court threatens the “sovereignty” of the United States which “undermines the critical work of national security and foreign policy” of the country and the allies like Israel.
ICC staff who are “responsible” for the “transgressions” of the Court could include their assets and them and their families may be prevented from entering the United States.
In November, the ICC issued arrest mandates against Netanyahu and its then Minister Yoav Gallant, “for crimes against humanity and war crimes”.
This decision marked a spectacular escalation of legal proceedings on the offensive of Israel in Gaza – which killed around 47,000 people, according to Palestinian officials – and marked the first time that the ICC issued a mandate for a chief supported by West.
The court also issued a mandate mandate for the head of the Hamas, Mohammed DEIF, for crimes against humanity and war crimes against the 2023 group’s 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the conflict in Gaza.
The White House said that “by issuing arrest mandates against Israeli officials and Hamas officials at the same time, the ICC has created shameful moral equivalence”.
Trump’s decree indicated that “recent CPI actions against Israel and the United States have created a dangerous precedent”, and that Washington “is unequivocally opposed and expects our allies to oppose Any action of the ICC “against the United States or Israel.
Neither the United States nor Israel is members of the Court or recognize its authority.
The ICC did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
The mandates for Israeli officials have forced the member states of the ICC – which include most European countries and Latin America, as well as some in Asia and Africa – to stop Netanyahu and Gallant if they have crossed their borders, Although the court has no application mechanism.
Joe Biden’s White House condemned the mandates when they were delivered. France, a member of the ICC and American ally in November, said that Netanyahu could have immunity against arrest because Israel was not a signatory to the law of Rome, which established the court.
The independent court is based in the Netherlands and was created in 2002 to continue the authors of the genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Trump also took measures against CPI officials in 2020, authorizing assets freezing and preventing family members from coming to the United States after the court began investigating American actions in Afghanistan.
