THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Worldwide Prison Courtroom on Friday known as on member states to face up towards sanctions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, describing the transfer as an try to “hurt its unbiased and neutral judicial work.”
The embattled courtroom has obtained help in Europe from conventional allies of the U.S.
“Sanctioning the ICC threatens the courtroom’s independence and undermines the worldwide prison justice system as a complete,” stated European Council President António Costa, who heads the summits of the European Union’s 27 leaders. It was the hardest direct criticism by a senior EU official to a call by Trump since his return to workplace final month.
The White Home issued the chief order towards the ICC on Thursday in response to what it known as “illegitimate and baseless actions concentrating on America and our shut ally Israel.”
Trump’s order was a response to the arrest warrant that the ICC issued final yr for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged warfare crimes in Gaza. The U.S. and Israel aren’t members of the courtroom and don’t acknowledge it’s authority.
Tens of 1000’s of Palestinians, together with youngsters, have been killed through the Israeli navy’s response to Hamas’ assault on southern Israel that killed round 1,200 folks in October 2023. The casualty determine of Palestinians killed is offered by Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
“Nobody stands above worldwide regulation”
The Hague-based ICC stated that it “condemns” the transfer by the Trump administration.
“The Courtroom stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to proceed offering justice and hope to tens of millions of harmless victims of atrocities the world over,” the courtroom stated in an announcement.
“We name on our 125 States Events, civil society and all nations of the world to face united for justice and elementary human rights,” it stated.
Germany stated it’ll await the affect of the U.S. sanctions, whereas indicating the place its sympathy lies.
“Standing up for worldwide regulation and for the Worldwide Prison Courtroom is in our personal most safety curiosity,” German International Minister Annalena Baerbock stated. The courtroom “is among the best achievements of worldwide prison regulation and is supported by greater than 120 states,” she added.
“If the ICC may now not proceed its work now, that may be one of many greatest joys for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” Baerbock stated. “Prior to now three years, Putin needed to see that his crimes towards humanity, reminiscent of the kidnapping of Ukrainian youngsters, do not stay with out penalties.”
She famous that Putin had been unable to journey to a BRICS summit of creating economies in South Africa and stated that “nobody stands above worldwide regulation.”
“Courtroom’s work is crucial”
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen stated the ICC “should have the ability to freely pursue the struggle towards international impunity. Europe will at all times stand for justice and the respect of worldwide regulation.”
The Netherlands, which hosts the courtroom, has additionally condemned Trump’s order. “The Netherlands regrets the chief order imposing sanctions on the ICC. The courtroom’s work is crucial within the struggle towards impunity,” International Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp stated in an announcement.
Folks within the Dutch authorities say the Netherlands has been attempting to help the courtroom in shielding itself from the fallout.
Trump’s govt order stated that the U.S. would impose “tangible and important penalties” on these accountable for the ICC’s “transgressions.” Actions could embody blocking property and belongings and never permitting ICC officers, staff and family members to enter the US.
The U.S. Treasury and State Division will decide which individuals and organizations will probably be sanctioned.
The ICC caught the wrath of the US in November when a pretrial panel of judges issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former protection minister and Hamas’ navy chief, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in reference to the warfare in Gaza.
The warrants stated that there was purpose to consider that Netanyahu and Israel’s former Protection Minister Yoav Gallant used “hunger as a way of warfare” by proscribing humanitarian assist and have deliberately focused civilians in Israel’s marketing campaign towards Hamas in Gaza — fees Israeli officers deny.
Funding for workers and investigations in danger
Human rights teams have criticized the U.S. sanctions.
“Sanctions are for human rights violators, not these working to carry rights abusers to account,” Liz Evenson, worldwide justice director at Human Rights Watch, stated in an announcement.
“Trump’s govt order borrows a web page out of Russia’s playbook, which has sought to impede the courtroom’s work by means of arrest warrants towards its judges and prosecutor,” she added.
Courtroom officers had been making ready for sanctions for months. In January, the courtroom gave employees a three-month advance on their salaries, two courtroom insiders informed The Related Press on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk to media.
Ought to the U.S. sanction the courtroom itself, it may cripple operations, leaving the establishment unable to pay employees, fund investigations, or entry data saved on servers in the US.
A minimum of two senior employees members on the courtroom have resigned since Trump was elected in an effort to keep away from sanctions.
‘ICC’s actions haven’t any authorized foundation’
In an more and more polarized Western world, Hungary stood facet by facet with Trump.
“The ICC has just lately turned itself right into a biased political software and has discredited the whole worldwide courtroom system,” International Minister Péter Szijjártó stated. “Its choices have additionally solely contributed to exacerbating insecurity in already troublesome components of the world.”
Israel’s International Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that “the ICC’s actions are immoral and haven’t any authorized foundation.”
It’s the second time that Trump has gone after the courtroom. Throughout his earlier time period in workplace, he imposed sanctions on former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and considered one of her deputies over her investigation into crimes dedicated in Afghanistan. U.S. President Joe Biden lifted the sanctions when he took workplace in 2021.
