Trump sanctions ICC over probes into U.S., Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing financial and travel sanctions on individuals aiding International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations of Americans or U.S. allies.

Banner depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, at the Palestine Square in Tehran, Iran, 28 November 2024. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, over alleged war crimes and

EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

This follows the ICC’s arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

The sanctions mirror Trump’s first-term measures against the ICC over Afghanistan war crimes probes, later lifted by President Joe Biden in 2021. Neither the United States nor Israel is an ICC member.

Dutch officials condemned the move, calling the court’s work vital to ending impunity. Meanwhile, Trump also announced a controversial Gaza plan, proposing to “relocate” residents and raze the territory.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to draft what he dubbed a “resettlement plan”, but Arab nations oppose admitting potentially two million Palestinians.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit the region on Feb. 13.

(jh)

Source: IAR, Reuters