ICC judges face sanctions for ‘targeting’ US and Israel
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US is imposing sanctions on four International Criminal Court (ICC) judges. Rubio justifies the decision by claiming "illegitimate actions" that target the US and Israel.
On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against four International Criminal Court (ICC) officials: Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou of Benin, and Beti Hohler of Slovenia.
The decision stems from Donald Trump's order to prepare sanctions against the two judges who issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. The warrant is a result of accusations against Israeli officials who oversaw the Gaza offensive that caused a humanitarian crisis in the region. Two other sanctioned ICC officials were involved in authorising an ICC investigation into alleged abuses committed by U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
The U.S. had already imposed sanctions on ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan over his involvement in issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. According to AP, the measures have resulted in Khan losing access to his email and having his bank accounts frozen.
US Secretary of State issued a statement on Thursday annoucing the implementation of sanctions.
"As ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel. The ICC is politicized and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge, and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies. This dangerous assertion and abuse of power infringes upon the sovereignty and national security of the United States and our allies, including Israel," said Rubio in the satement.
In turn, the ICC issued a statement condemning Rubio's actions. "These measures are a clear attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution which operates under the mandate from 125 States Parties from all corners of the globe," reads the statement in part.
Proceeding with the sanctions is likely to intensify Trump’s ongoing clash with the court and other international bodies, which he has repeatedly criticized as being politically biased.
Source: The Guardian, AP
