The US Bites Back at the ICC: Freezing Assets of Judges Over Netanyahu Arrest Warrant
United States Imposes Restrictions on Female Judges of Criminal Courts
Dayum, the US has taken a hard stance against the International Criminal Court (ICC)! The Trump administration has gone ahead and slammed sanctions on four ICC judges, including the one who issued an arrest warrant for Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu. The US ain't happy with the ICC's interference in its and Israel's affairs.
According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, these judges have actively participated in the illegitimate and unfounded actions against America or its close ally Israel. The US claims these actions are a violation of their sovereignty and those of their allies, including Israel.
Trump expressed his disdain for the ICC earlier with an executive order in February. Now, he's accusing two of the sanctioned judges of approving an investigation into US soldiers in Afghanistan, according to the State Department. The other two judges are accused of enabling the issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli officials in connection with the Gaza war.
The sanctions freeze any assets the judges may have in the US and prohibit US companies and citizens from doing business with them. The US government has, however, refrained from issuing a travel ban. The judges targeted are Ugandan judge Solomy Balungi Bossa, Peruvian Luz del Carmen Ibañez Carranza, Beninese Reine Alapini-Gansou, and Slovenian judge Beti Hohler.
The ICC sees this as an attack on its independence. The EU Council President Antonio Costa pledged the European Union's support for the ICC. The EU views the ICC as a cornerstone of international justice and demands its independence and integrity to be protected.
In the past, during his first term, Trump already ordered sanctions when the court was investigating alleged war crimes by US soldiers in Afghanistan. Biden later reversed these sanctions.
The ICC has been pursuing particularly serious crimes such as war crimes since 2002. It can issue arrest warrants that are valid in all of the more than 120 signatory states of the Rome Statute. Thus, member states would have to arrest Netanyahu as soon as he enters their territory.
The US administration's actions against the ICC judges sparked criticism from international partners and organizations. However, following Trump's lead, it seems the US isn't backing down anytime soon.
Sources:
- ntv.de
- mwa/AFP/rts/dpa
- Politics
- International Conflicts
- Israel vs Palestine
- ICC Investigations
- US Sanctions
- Netanyahu
- The US's sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) judges, which include Ugandan judge Solomy Balungi Bossa, Peruvian Luz del Carmen Ibañez Carranza, Beninese Reine Alapini-Gansou, and Slovenian judge Beti Hohler, are a part of the broader scope of US politics and international conflicts, particularly those related to Israel's affairs and the ICC investigations.
- The ongoing tension between the US and the ICC over the arrest warrant for Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu is a significant general-news topic, involving not only the US employment policy (sanctions) but also the employment policies of the ICC judges, as they are accused of enabling actions that the US considers a violation of their sovereignty and that of their allies.
