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12h ago

Trump Sanctions Paralyze ICC Operations Following Arrest Warrants for Israeli Leaders

The International Criminal Court faces operational collapse as U.S. sanctions freeze finances, halt investigations, and disrupt global cooperation.

FILE - Karim Ahmed Khan, International Criminal Court chief prosecutor, speaks during a news conference in Khartoum, Sudan, Aug. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File)
FILE - A general view of the exterior of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana, File)
FILE - Karim Khan, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court looks up prior to a press conference in The Hague, Netherlands, July 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
FILE - A tent camp for displaced Palestinians is set up amid destroyed buildings in the Khan Younis refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana, File)

Overview

  • U.S. sanctions imposed by President Trump in February 2025 have frozen ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan’s bank accounts and email access, crippling his ability to perform basic duties.
  • Key investigations, including the probe into Sudanese atrocities and charges against former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, have been suspended due to operational disruptions.
  • American ICC staff have been warned of potential arrest if they return to the U.S., while several NGOs and contractors have cut ties with the court to avoid penalties.
  • The sanctions followed ICC arrest warrants issued in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
  • ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane condemned the sanctions as a threat to international rule of law and justice for millions of victims.