The International Criminal Court (ICC) has vowed to uphold its judicial mission despite a sweeping order from U.S. President Donald Trump imposing sanctions on its staff.
In a strong-worded statement released on the on 7th of February, 2025, the global tribunal declared that it “stands firmly” by its personnel, condemning what it described as an attempt to undermine its independence.
“The ICC condemns the issuance by the US of an executive order seeking to impose sanctions on its officials and harm its independent and impartial judicial work,” the statement read. “The Court stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world, in all situations before it.”
Trump’s directive, which accused the ICC of “illegitimate and baseless actions,” was issued in response to the court’s arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza claims that Israel has strongly denied.
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Beyond condemning the ICC’s actions, Trump’s order also greenlights severe economic sanctions, granting him extensive powers to freeze assets and enforce travel bans against ICC officials and their families.
This bold move follows the court’s November ruling to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.