Dozens of Countries Slam US Sanctions on ICC

The Hague (Quds News Network)- A group of 48 countries has expressed “deep concern” over the United States’ recent sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), condemning all threats and attacks directed at the court’s judges and staff. The sanctions were imposed after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an earlier investigation into US war crimes in Afghanistan.

“We stand with the court and are determined to continue our full support for it so that it can continue to operate independently and effectively,” the countries said in a statement.

At the Special Session of the ASP of the @IntlCrimCourt, 🇲🇽 delivered a joint statement on behalf of 48 States condemning the sanctions to its personnel: 🇦🇩🇦🇹🇧🇪🇧🇿🇧🇴🇧🇦🇧🇼🇧🇷🇧🇬🇨🇱🇨🇴🇭🇷🇨🇾🇨🇩🇩🇰🇪🇪🇫🇮🇬🇭🇬🇹🇭🇳🇮🇸🇮🇪🇱🇮🇱🇹🇱🇺🇲🇼🇲🇹🇲🇩🇲🇳🇳🇴🇵🇪🇵🇹🇨🇿🇰🇳🇸🇳🇸🇱🇸🇰🇸🇮🇿🇦🇪🇸🇵🇸🇸🇪🇨🇭🇹🇱🇹🇳🇺🇾🇻🇺 pic.twitter.com/fZcGq8omgi

— Misión de México ONU (@MexOnu) July 7, 2025

The statement comes after the Trump administration announced sanctions against ICC officials in June, naming four judges whom it accuses of taking “illegitimate and baseless actions” against the US and its allies, including Israel.

Washington designated Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin and Beti Hohler of Slovenia, according to a statement from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“As ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel. The ICC is politicized and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge, and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies,” Rubio said.

Both judges Bossa and Ibanez Carranza have been on the ICC bench since 2018. In 2020 they were involved in an appeals chamber decision that allowed the ICC prosecutor to open a formal investigation into alleged war crimes by American troops in Afghanistan.

Since 2021, the court had deprioritized the investigation into American troops in Afghanistan and focused on alleged crimes committed by the Afghan government and the Taliban forces.

ICC judges also issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant last November for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza genocide. Alapini Gansou and Hohler ruled to authorize the arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant, Rubio said.

“These measures are a clear attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution which operates under the mandate from 125 states parties from all corners of the globe,” the ICC said in response to the sanctions.

“Targeting those working for accountability does nothing to help civilians trapped in conflict,” the statement continued.

“It only emboldens those who believe they can act with impunity. These sanctions are not only directed at designated individuals, they also target all those who support the court, including nationals and corporate entities of states parties.”

“They are aimed against innocent victims in all situations before the court, as well as the rule of law, peace, security and the prevention of the gravest crimes that shock the conscience of humanity.”

“The ICC stands fully behind its personnel, and will continue its work undeterred, in strict accordance with the Rome Statute and the principles of fairness and due process, with a view to bringing justice to victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression,” it added.

James Goldston, executive director of the Open Society’s justice initiative and former ICC prosecutor, said: “As a court of last resort, the ICC is the one place victims of the most serious crimes can turn to when other avenues have failed them in their search for truth and justice.”

“These new designations of ICC judges threaten their hopes and embolden the perpetrators. Sanctions against ICC officials are a betrayal of America’s proud commitment to the rule of law and international justice.”

During the first Trump administration in 2020, Washington imposed sanctions on then-prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and one of her top aides over the court’s work on Afghanistan.
The measures also follow a January vote at the US House of Representatives to punish the ICC in protest over its Netanyahu arrest warrant.

Sanctions severely hamper individuals’ abilities to carry out even routine financial transactions as any banks with ties to the United States, or that conduct transactions in dollars, are expected to have to comply with the restrictions.

The US has already sanctioned the ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, because of his role in pursuing the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.