Dozens of countries have come out in strong support for the International Criminal Court, following new sanctions against its staff announced by US President Donald Trump. Key member states, including the UK, Germany, and France, underlined that the ICC was a “vital pillar” of the international justice system.
Trump issued the announcement after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to visit him since coming back into office. Last year, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on alleged war crimes in Gaza—something Israel denies—alongside one for a Hamas commander. The US has criticized the ICC for what it says was “shameful moral equivalency” between Israel and Hamas.
The ICC is the first global court empowered to prosecute for genocide, war crimes, and other serious human rights abuses, and counts 125 countries as members. A statement signed by 79 nations condemned Trump’s executive order, but Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Italy did not.
In response, the ICC called upon its members and global civil society to unite for justice and human rights, promising to continue its work for victims of atrocities. The court had previously indicated “reasonable grounds” for believing Netanyahu and other leaders bear criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes.
The sanctions, which could include financial penalties and visa restrictions on ICC personnel, are feared to intimidate victims from testimony. The ICC’s first chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, has underlined the importance of an international fightback against Trump’s plans:.
If the UN and European leaders called for the revocation of sanctions, Israeli officials hailed Trump for their stance: “the ICC has no jurisdiction and moral validity whatsoever”. These latest developments show the current undercurrents on the fronts of international justice and accountability.
