ICC strongly rejects new U.S. sanctions designations against its judges
13 oC
13 oC
Güneşli
13 oC
Güneşli
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has strongly condemned the United States’ decision to impose sanctions on two of its judges, describing the move as a reckless attack on judicial independence and the rule of law.
In a statement, the Court said the sanctions directly target an independent international judicial body and undermine the foundations of global justice. The ICC stressed that judges and prosecutors are elected by states and that pressuring them amounts to an assault not only on individuals, but on the entire international legal system.
The Court warned that intimidation and political pressure against judicial authorities pose a serious threat to the global justice order, emphasizing that justice cannot function under coercion or threats.
The decision also drew criticism from the United Nations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over Washington’s move, underlining that safeguarding judicial independence is a shared responsibility of the international community.
Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel reaffirmed his country’s full support for the ICC, stating that the Court must be allowed to carry out its mandate free from political pressure.
Meanwhile, the occupying regime’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Danny Danon, publicly thanked US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the sanctions. Danon accused the ICC of being “politicized,” echoing long-standing narratives promoted by the occupation media.
US Secretary of State Rubio said the sanctioned judges had voted against requests to block the Court’s jurisdiction over investigations into crimes committed in Gaza. He described the ICC’s attempts to prosecute US and occupation regime nationals as “unacceptable.”
The sanctions follow similar US measures imposed in March against two judges and two prosecutors of the Court. ICC President Tomoko Akane had previously stated that such sanctions affect even the personal lives of judges but emphasized that the Court would not bow to pressure.
It is recalled that in November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants against occupation regime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza, and later rejected appeals against those warrants.
Washington’s latest move is widely viewed as a new attempt to pressure international justice mechanisms following these decisions. (ILKHA)
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