Washington/New York: The USA has expanded its sanctions towards the Worldwide Prison Court docket, focusing on 4 senior judges and prosecutors in reference to ongoing investigations into alleged Israeli battle crimes in Gaza. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio introduced the most recent sanctions on Wednesday.
“The Court docket is a nationwide safety risk that has been an instrument for lawfare towards the USA and our shut ally Israel,” Rubio stated.
The brand new measures have an effect on Canadian Choose Kimberly Prost, French Choose Nicolas Guillou and deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal.
Guillou oversaw the pre-trial panel that issued the arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whereas Khan and Niang helped uphold the warrants. Prost is sanctioned for authorising the ICC investigation into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.
The USA cited their roles in actions it described as “illegitimate and baseless” towards Israel and American officers.
The ICC has confronted fierce criticism from Washington, significantly after issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged battle crimes and crimes towards humanity in Gaza. The courtroom can be investigating potential abuses by U.S. forces in Afghanistan, although it prioritises Taliban and ISIS-related atrocities.
Following the U.S. announcement, the ICC condemned the sanctions. The courtroom known as the measures “a flagrant assault towards the independence of an neutral judicial establishment” and reiterated its dedication to pursue accountability for victims of battle crimes worldwide.
Netanyahu praised the U.S. transfer as “a decisive act towards a smear marketing campaign of lies towards the State of Israel”.
Two of the sanctioned officers, Prost and Guillou, come from Canada and France, nations that just lately recognised a Palestinian state in response to Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Financial institution. The French Overseas Ministry stated the judges’ work is “important within the struggle towards impunity”, highlighting the worldwide stakes concerned.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned that the sanctions “impose extreme impediments on the functioning of the workplace of the prosecutor”, undermining the foundations of worldwide justice.
The USA has lengthy opposed the ICC and has resisted the concept that American officers may face prosecution for battle crimes. Earlier administrations had averted excessive measures like sanctions. This new spherical represents the Trump administration’s most assertive step. Critics say the motion may weaken worldwide legislation to defend Israel and American personnel from accountability.