US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has introduced his division will impose sanctions on 4 judges on the Worldwide Felony Court docket (ICC) for “illegitimate” concentrating on of Israel and the US.
The sanctions are in response to the ICC issuing arrest warrants for prime Israeli officers, together with Benjamin Netanyahu, and its investigation into alleged US battle crimes in Afghanistan.
The 4 judges named are all ladies: Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin and Beti Hohler of Slovenia.
The ICC has responded in an announcement, saying it “deplores” the sanctions that are “a transparent try and undermine” its independence.
The measures require all property and pursuits owned by the judges within the US to be blocked and reported to the Treasury division.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Rubio and US President Donald Trump for the intervention, saying they’d “stood up for the precise of Israel”.
In a statement, Rubio accused the judges of “illegitimate and baseless actions” concentrating on Israel and the US.
“These 4 people have actively engaged within the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions concentrating on America or our shut ally, Israel,” he stated.
Rubio additionally described the ICC as “politicized” and stated it “falsely claims unfettered discretion” to research nationals of the US and its allies.
“This harmful assertion and abuse of energy infringes upon the sovereignty and nationwide safety of america and our allies, together with Israel.”
In its response, the ICC stated it “stands absolutely behind its personnel” and can proceed its work “undeterred”.
“Focusing on these working for accountability does nothing to assist civilians trapped in battle,” the courtroom stated.
“These sanctions will not be solely directed at designated people, in addition they goal all those that help the Court docket… They’re aimed towards harmless victims in all Conditions earlier than the Court docket.”
The ICC is a world courtroom with the ability to convey prosecutions for genocide, crimes towards humanity and battle crimes.
Final 12 months, it issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israel’s former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged battle crimes in Gaza.
An arrest warrant for Hamas navy chief Mohammed Deif was additionally issued however Hamas later confirmed he was killed in an airstrike final 12 months.
The judges stated there have been “cheap grounds” the three males bore “legal accountability” for alleged battle crimes and crimes towards humanity within the battle between Israel and Hamas.
Each Israel and Hamas have rejected the allegations.
In February, President Trump imposed financial sanctions towards the ICC, together with towards its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, and stated the courtroom had “abused its energy”.
In Thursday’s announcement, the US state division stated two of the judges, Bossa and Ibáñez Carranza had authorised the ICC’s investigation towards US personnel in Afghanistan.
The opposite two judges, Alapini Gansou and Hohler, had dominated to situation arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
