US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that his department would impose sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for “illegitimate” targeting of Israel and the United States.
The sanctions are in response to ICC delivering arrest warrants For the best Israeli officials, including Benjamin Netanyahu, and his investigation into the alleged American war crimes in Afghanistan.
The four judges appointed are all women: Salomy Balunghi Bossa in Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza from Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou du Benin and Beti Hohler de Slovenie.
The ICC responded in a statement, saying that it “deplores” the sanctions which are “a clear attempt to undermine” its independence.
The measures require that all property belonging to the judges in the United States be blocked and reported in the Treasury Department.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Rubio and US President Donald Trump for the intervention, saying that they “defended Israel’s law”.
In a declarationRubio accused judges of “illegitimate and baseless actions” targeting Israel and the United States.
“These four individuals have actively engaged in the illegitimate and baseless actions of the ICC targeting America or our close ally, Israel,” he said.
Rubio also described the ICC as “politicized” and said that it “falsely claims to be a discretion without hindrance” to investigate nationals of the United States and its allies.
“This dangerous affirmation and abuse of power affects the sovereignty and national security of the United States and our allies, including Israel.”
In her response, the ICC said that she was “held completely behind her staff” and will continue her work “without being discouraged”.
“The targeting of those who work for responsibility do nothing to help civilians trapped in the conflict,” said the court.
“These sanctions are not only intended for designated persons, but they also target all those who support the court … They are intended for innocent victims in all situations in court.”
The ICC is a global court having the power to cause prosecution for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Last year, he issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and the former Minister of Defense of Israel, Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
An arrest warrant against the military leader of Hamas, Mohammed Deif, was also issued, but Hamas later confirmed that he was killed during an air strike last year.
The judges said that there were “reasonable reasons” that the three men had a “criminal responsibility” for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the war between Israel and Hamas.
Israel and Hamas rejected allegations.
In February, President Trump imposed economic sanctions against the ICC, including against his chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, said that the court had “abused his power”.
In Thursday’s announcement, the US State Department said two of the judges, Bossa and Ibáñez Carranza authorized the ICC investigation against US staff in Afghanistan.
The other two judges, Alapini Gansou and Hohler, had decided to issue arrest mandates against Netanyahu and Gallant.
