The fresh decisions of the global Criminal Court, including the issuing of arrest warrants against Israeli and Palestinian leaders, have sparked a violent consequence from the United States. U.S. president Donald Trump has taken action to impose sanctions on ICC officials, recognising their investigations as a threat to US national safety and its allies, especially Israel.
The United States' decision to impose sanctions on ICC officials is another step in the long-term conflict between this global tribunal and the US administration. On Thursday, the White home announced the issue of an implementing regulation that provides for "serious and crucial consequences" for ICC representatives for conducting investigations likely to jeopardise the interests of the US and Israel.
Penalties may include: freezing of assets and property of ICC officials in the United States, banning entry for them and their families into the United States.
ICC issued in November 2023 warrants for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and erstwhile defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes in connection with the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. A akin warrant was besides issued for Mohammed Deif, erstwhile Hamas commander.
In consequence to the U.S. sanctions of this week, the global Criminal Court condemned Washington's decision as an effort to undermine the independency and impartiality of his work. The ICC message stresses that the Court “will defend its officials” and will proceed to fight for justice for victims of crime worldwide.
Neither the United States nor Israel admit the jurisdiction of the ICC. The Court operates on the basis of the Rome Statute, which entered into force in 2002 and was ratified by 125 states. The U.S. never signed or ratified this treaty, and Israel, although signing the charter, yet ratified it. ICC members are most European countries, Latin America and Africa. China, Russia, India, the United States and Israel do not recognise its jurisdiction.
The U.S. administration argues that ICC's actions are a "dangerous precedent" that can be utilized to prosecute US officials and their allies. However, an earlier effort by the U.S. legislature to introduce sanctions on the ICC in January 2023 did not receive adequate support in the Senate.
What is the global Criminal Court (ICC)?
The global Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent judicial institution established under the Rome Statute, whose negotiations were held under the UN, but the ICC is not a United Nations body. The Court was created to justice the perpetrators of the most severe global crimes, specified as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression.
The Court has the right to prosecute the natural persons liable for these offences, but only if: the crimes have been committed on the territory of the State organization to the Statute of Rome, the individual charged is simply a national of the State Party, the UN safety Council will mention the substance to the ICC, a State which is not a organization to the Statute, agree to the jurisdiction of the Court on a circumstantial case.
