13 oC 
Güneşli
The United States has imposed sanctions on two senior officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the court's investigations into alleged war crimes involving officials of the Israeli occupation regime, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced.
The sanctions target ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane of Japan and Abdoulaye Sy, a senior Senegalese lawyer in the court's Office of the Prosecutor.
Sanctions imposed under Trump executive order
Rubio said the measures were taken under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump authorizing sanctions against individuals involved in ICC investigations of U.S. personnel or officials of allied countries that do not recognize the court's jurisdiction.
According to Rubio, both officials were directly involved in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute individuals from countries whose governments do not accept the ICC's jurisdiction.
"These two individuals were directly involved in the ICC's efforts to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute officials in cases involving governments that have not accepted the court's jurisdiction," Rubio said.
ICC criticizes the move
The sanctions mark the latest escalation in the Trump administration's campaign against the Hague-based court, which was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
Responding to the sanctions, the ICC said that when judicial officials are threatened for carrying out their legal duties, the entire international justice system is placed at risk.
The court has previously defended the independence of its judges and prosecutors, stressing that its officials must be allowed to perform their responsibilities without political pressure or intimidation.(ILKHA)
LEGAL WARNING: All rights of the published news, photos and videos are reserved by İlke Haber Ajansı Basın Yayın San. Trade A.Ş. Under no circumstances can all or part of the news, photos and videos be used without a written contract or subscription.
The United States has dramatically escalated its campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC), imposing sanctions on the court’s president and a senior trial lawyer in a move that critics say represents a brazen attempt by Washington to intimidate international justice and shield powerful allies from accountability.
Syria has formally complained to the United Nations over what it described as Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in Idlib province, calling the attack a clear violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity and urging the international community to take action against Israel.
U.S. President Donald Trump has postponed the implementation of a planned 50% tariff on selected Canadian imports for three days, saying the decision follows a breakthrough in negotiations between the United States and Canada.
