The United States is considering imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a whole, according to Reuters. This move would be the most severe escalation yet in the US campaign against the tribunal. The US has already blacklisted individual judges and prosecutors, but entity-wide sanctions could cripple the court’s day-to-day operations, including paying staff salaries and accessing banking services.
The pressure campaign against the ICC comes after the court issued arrest warrants last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The ICC also charged members of Hamas with alleged war crimes. The US and Israel have rejected the court’s jurisdiction, with Washington describing the ICC as “a national security threat” that has been used as an instrument for lawfare against the US and Israel.
The ICC has begun preparing for potential sanctions by paying staff salaries in advance through the end of 2025 and seeking alternative providers for banking and office software. Emergency meetings have been held among court officials and with diplomats from member states to assess the potential impact. The threat of broader sanctions has triggered pushback among the ICC’s 125 member countries, with several planning to raise concerns at the United Nations General Assembly.
The ICC was established in 2002 under the Rome Statute to prosecute genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The court recognizes Palestine as a member, which it says grants jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed in Gaza. The US and Israel do not recognize the court’s jurisdiction, leading to a long-standing dispute.
Last month, the US imposed sanctions on two ICC judges and two prosecutors, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing the court as a threat to national security. In February, the US also sanctioned the ICC’s lead prosecutor, Karim Khan, after he sought arrest warrants against Israeli officials. Khan is currently on leave amid an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, which he denies.
The potential sanctions on the ICC could have significant implications for the court’s ability to function and its relationships with member states. The US campaign against the ICC has sparked concerns among member countries, with some planning to raise their concerns at the UN General Assembly. The dispute between the US, Israel, and the ICC is likely to continue, with the potential for further escalation.
