The United States has imposed sanctions on four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), intensifying its campaign against what it calls “illegitimate and politicized” legal actions targeting America and its allies—particularly Israel.
In a statement released Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions under Executive Order 14203, targeting judges Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza (Peru), Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou (Benin), and Beti Hohler (Slovenia). The sanctions restrict their access to the U.S. financial system and are expected to significantly limit their ability to conduct international financial transactions.
Rubio accused the ICC of abusing its authority by pursuing politically motivated investigations. “These individuals are engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel,” Rubio said. “The ICC is attempting to assert unchecked jurisdiction over U.S. and Israeli nationals, a dangerous and unfounded overreach.”
The sanctions come in response to the ICC’s controversial decision in November 2024 to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The court alleged that the two officials committed grave violations of international law in Gaza, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, following a deadly 2023 attack by Hamas.
The ICC’s actions have sparked outrage in both Washington and Jerusalem. Israel, like the United States, is not a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the court and has long rejected its authority over Israeli nationals. Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, previously accused the ICC of acting as a “political tool serving Israel’s enemies.”
According to reporting by The Times UK, the recent U.S. measures mark a significant escalation in its confrontation with the court. In February, the Biden-Trump administration had already sanctioned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan for issuing the warrants, further straining the U.S.’s already tense relationship with the institution.
The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, relies on its 123 member states to enforce its rulings and does not have its own enforcement mechanism. Major global powers including the U.S., China, Russia, and Israel are not members of the court.
Adding to the controversy, Khan has taken a leave of absence amid a United Nations investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, raising further questions about the leadership and credibility of the court at a time of intense scrutiny.
While the ICC has yet to issue a formal response to the latest sanctions, legal experts warn that continued pressure from Washington could damage the court’s ability to function as an independent global judicial body.
