On 5 June, the United States imposed sanctions on four International Criminal Court (ICC) judges. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited their involvement in what he called the “baseless and politicised targeting of America and our close ally Israel”.
The @IntlCrimCourt’s baseless and politicized targeting of America and our close ally Israel must end. Today, I have sanctioned four ICC judges for infringing on U.S. and Israeli sovereignty – two who authorized the ICC’s baseless investigation into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 5, 2025
The sanctions were announced in response to the ICC’s authorisation of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza.
ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant over Gaza war crimes
The sanctions target Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou of Benin, and Beti Hohler of Slovenia. Bossa and Carranza had previously been involved in approving a 2020 investigation into war crimes committed by US personnel in Afghanistan.
The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 14203, signed by President Donald Trump on 6 February 2025. The order authorises asset freezes and entry bans against individuals involved in ICC investigations of US or allied government officials and military personnel. The US State Department confirmed that the assets of the judges within US jurisdiction would be frozen.
The ICC condemned the move, stating that it constitutes an assault on judicial independence. In a statement released on 5 June, the Court described the US sanctions as “a clear attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution”, warning that they target “all those who support the Court, including nationals and corporate entities of States Parties”. The following day, the Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties expressed “deep concern” and rejected the US measures, stating that they “represent a regrettable affront to the independence of the Court and the integrity of the Rome Statute system”.
Representatives of the European Union also condemned the US action. The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, called the ICC “a cornerstone of international justice” and stressed the importance of protecting its independence and integrity. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this stance, stating, “The ICC holds perpetrators of the world’s gravest crimes to account and gives victims a voice. It must be free to act without pressure.”
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, welcomed the US decision. In a statement published on social media by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, he thanked President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio for imposing sanctions on ICC judges. He stated that they had defended the right of Israel, the United States and other democracies to protect themselves against what he described as ‘savage terror’.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu:
“Thank you President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio for imposing sanctions against the politicized judges of the ICC. You have justly stood up for the right of Israel, The United States and all democracies to defend themselves against savage terror.”
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 6, 2025
The United States is not a member of the ICC and has long contested its jurisdiction over US nationals and allied military personnel. The Trump administration, in particular, has taken a confrontational stance towards the Court, consistently opposing its investigations into the conducts of the US and Israeli governments. The latest sanctions reinforce this position, signalling the US government’s ongoing efforts to prevent the international prosecution of its officials and allies. While this development raises concerns about the ICC’s ability to ensure accountability for war crimes through global legal mechanisms, Washington’s continued political, military and diplomatic support for Israel amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza also implicates the United States in the broader international legal and moral responsibility.
