Washington – President Donald Trump has imposed economic and travel sanctions on individuals involved in International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations of U.S. citizens and allies, including Israel. The move has drawn widespread condemnation, particularly from European leaders, but garnered some international support.
The ICC is a permanent tribunal responsible for prosecuting war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. Trump’s decision coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. The court has ongoing investigations involving Israel and Gaza, as well as past U.S. military actions in Afghanistan.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized the sanctions, stating they undermine efforts to hold global leaders accountable for war crimes. European Council President Antonio Costa similarly warned that the sanctions threaten the international justice system. The Netherlands, where the ICC is based, also expressed regret over the measures.
The sanctions freeze U.S.-based assets of designated individuals and ban them and their families from entering the United States. Although no names have been released, the move follows previous Trump administration actions in 2020 that targeted former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.