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President Donald Trump has signed an executive order authorizing sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to its investigations into Israel, a key U.S. ally. The ICC has been probing Israel’s military actions during its conflict with Hamas, which has drawn strong criticism from both the U.S. and Israeli governments. Neither country is a member of the ICC, and both reject its jurisdiction.
The ICC recently issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of war crimes related to Israel’s military response in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. The Israeli offensive has reportedly resulted in significant casualties, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stating that 47,540 Palestinians were killed and 111,618 injured as of February 4. Israel, on the other hand, reports over 1,200 fatalities and 5,400 injuries on its side during the same period.
In the executive order, President Trump condemned the ICC’s actions as “illegitimate and baseless,” accusing the court of overstepping its authority by targeting the U.S. and Israel. The order emphasized that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over both nations and warned that its actions set a “dangerous precedent.” The sanctions will target ICC officials involved in the investigations, potentially freezing their assets and banning them from entering the U.S.
The move comes during Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he met with President Trump and other U.S. officials. The two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral ties and addressing shared concerns, including the ICC’s investigations.
Human rights organizations have criticized the sanctions, arguing that they undermine global efforts to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable. Charlie Hogle, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Security Project, described the order as an attack on both accountability and free speech. He warned that it could deter victims of human rights abuses from seeking justice and penalize Americans who assist the ICC in its investigations.
Sarah Yager, Washington director of Human Rights Watch, echoed these concerns, stating that while disagreements with the ICC are valid, imposing sanctions goes too far. She emphasized the importance of maintaining international mechanisms for justice, even when they are controversial.
The U.S. has long been skeptical of the ICC, fearing that its unelected judges could unfairly target American officials. This latest action reflects the Trump administration’s broader skepticism of international institutions and its commitment to protecting U.S. sovereignty and its allies.
**Focus Keywords:** Trump, sanctions, International Criminal Court, Israel, ICC investigations, executive order, Netanyahu, war crimes, Gaza conflict, human rights.
