Washington (Web Desk): US President Donald Trump on Thursday took action to implement economic and travel sanctions against individuals involved in investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into US citizens or allies like Israel.
This move mirrored a similar decision made during his first term. The announcement came at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting Washington.
Netanyahu, along with his former defense minister and a key Hamas leader, faces ICC warrants in relation to the Gaza Strip conflict.
It remains uncertain when the US will identify the specific individuals targeted by these sanctions.
In 2020, during Trump’s first administration, Washington imposed penalties on the ICC’s former prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, and one of her senior colleagues over the court’s inquiry into potential war crimes by American forces in Afghanistan.
The court has not provided an immediate response to requests for comment. The sanctions could result in the freezing of US assets belonging to those affected and prevent them and their families from entering the United States.
The ICC, which consists of 125 member states, is a global institution responsible for holding individuals accountable for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression. Notably, the US, China, Russia, and Israel are not members.
Trump’s latest order follows the blockage of a Republican-backed bill in the Senate aimed at creating a similar sanctions framework targeting the ICC.
In preparation for potential sanctions, the ICC has taken measures to protect its staff, including prepaying salaries to shield them from financial restrictions that could jeopardize its operations.
The court’s president, Judge Tomoko Akane, recently cautioned that sanctions would severely impact its ability to function and endanger its very survival.
In 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of war crimes related to the forced deportation of Ukrainian children. In retaliation, Russia imposed travel bans on ICC prosecutors and judges, placing some of them on a wanted list.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Israel and several Arab nations in mid-February, marking his first trip to the Middle East since a controversial proposal by Trump regarding the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. Rubio’s trip, set for February 13-18, will include stops in Israel, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, as well as the Munich Security Conference.
During his visit, Rubio is expected to address the situation in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel and to promote Trump’s strategy of disrupting the region’s longstanding dynamics.
Trump has made repeated suggestions since January 25 that Palestinians in Gaza should be relocated to nearby Arab nations such as Egypt and Jordan during the rebuilding process following the Israel-Gaza conflict.
This proposal has been widely rejected by both Arab nations and Palestinians, with the latter fearing permanent displacement.
The ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza, which has paused temporarily due to a fragile ceasefire, has resulted in the deaths of more than 47,000 Palestinians over the past 16 months, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The assault has led to accusations of genocide and war crimes, which Israel denies.
Additionally, the violence has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza and sparked a severe hunger crisis.
