- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions, stating that the ICC has made multiple attempts to assert authority over U.S. nationals and citizens of countries outside the court’s jurisdiction.
- The sanctions are pursuant to the U.S.’s Executive Order 14203 issued on February 6, 2025, citing the ICC’s investigations against and arrest warrants on Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
- With the latest action, the U.S. has sanctioned nine of the court’s 18 judges, both of its deputy prosecutors, and a former chief prosecutor.
- Mr. Rubio stated that the U.S. will sanction organizations that work with the ICC and pressure member states to withdraw from the institution.
- The sanctions restrict the officials from traveling to the U.S. and prevent them from accessing the U.S. financial system, which most international banks are connected to.
- While Mr. Netanyahu lauded the U.S. sanctions, Japan, the biggest funder of the ICC, objected to the sanctions, stating it has 'consistently supported the ICC... to uphold the rule of law'.
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called the sanctions unacceptable and demanded they be lifted, while European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen stated the court 'must be able to act independently and without external pressure'.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against nine ICC officials, citing the court's attempts to assert authority over U.S. nationals. The sanctions, part of Executive Order 14203, follow the ICC's investigation into Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes in Gaza.12
The U.S. sanctions restrict travel and access to the U.S. financial system for the targeted officials. Rubio stated that the U.S. will also sanction organizations collaborating with the ICC and pressure member states to withdraw from the institution. Netanyahu praised the sanctions, labeling the ICC a 'kangaroo court'.
Japan, a significant ICC funder, expressed strong objections, calling the sanctions 'very unfortunate' and reaffirming its support for the ICC's role in upholding the rule of law. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk criticized the sanctions, emphasizing the ICC's importance in international criminal justice and calling for the sanctions to be lifted. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen echoed these sentiments, asserting the need for the ICC to operate independently.7
The sanctions mark a significant escalation in U.S.-ICC tensions, with implications for international law and justice.
“The sanctions, part of Executive Order 14203, target nine judges and both deputy prosecutors of the ICC, restricting their travel and financial access. UN High Commissioner Volker Turk condemned the sanctions as unacceptable, while Japan, the ICC's largest funder, expressed disappointment, reaffirming its commitment to the court's independence.”
