U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday reauthorized economic and travel sanctions against individuals involved in International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations of U.S. citizens or its allies, including Israel.
This action comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington. Netanyahu, along with former defense minister Benny Gantz and a leader of Hamas, is wanted by the ICC for their role in the Gaza conflict. It is unclear when the U.S. will reveal the names of those sanctioned.
In 2020, the U.S. imposed similar sanctions on former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and her aide, over an investigation into alleged war crimes by American troops in Afghanistan. The sanctions include freezing U.S. assets and barring entry to the U.S. for those designated, along with their families.
The U.S. Senate last week blocked Republican-led legislation proposing a sanctions regime against the ICC. The ICC, which prosecutes war crimes, has shielded staff from potential U.S. sanctions by paying salaries three months in advance.
The ICC’s president, Tomoko Akane, warned that such measures could severely disrupt the Court’s operations and existence.
