US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has introduced his division will impose sanctions on 4 judges on the Worldwide Prison Courtroom (ICC) for “illegitimate” concentrating on of Israel and the US.
The sanctions are in response to the ICC issuing arrest warrants for high Israeli officers, together with Benjamin Netanyahu, and its investigation into alleged US battle crimes in Afghanistan.
The 4 judges named are all girls: Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin and Beti Hohler of Slovenia.
The ICC has responded in an announcement, saying it “deplores” the sanctions that are “a transparent try to undermine” its independence.
The measures require all property and pursuits owned by the judges within the US to be blocked and reported to the Treasury division.
In a statement, Rubio accused the judges of “illegitimate and baseless actions” concentrating on Israel and the US.
“These 4 people have actively engaged within the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions concentrating on America or our shut ally, Israel,” he mentioned.
Rubio additionally described the ICC as “politicized” and mentioned it “falsely claims unfettered discretion” to analyze nationals of the US and its allies.
“This harmful assertion and abuse of energy infringes upon the sovereignty and nationwide safety of the US and our allies, together with Israel.”
In its response, the ICC mentioned it “stands absolutely behind its personnel” and can proceed its work “undeterred”.
“Focusing on these working for accountability does nothing to assist civilians trapped in battle,” the courtroom mentioned.
“These sanctions are usually not solely directed at designated people, additionally they goal all those that help the Courtroom… They’re aimed towards harmless victims in all Conditions earlier than the Courtroom.”
The ICC is a world courtroom with the ability to carry prosecutions for genocide, crimes towards humanity and battle crimes.
Final yr, it issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israel’s former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged battle crimes in Gaza.
An arrest warrant for Hamas army chief Mohammed Deif was additionally issued however Hamas later confirmed he was killed in an airstrike final yr.
The judges mentioned there have been “affordable grounds” the three males bore “prison duty” for alleged battle crimes and crimes towards humanity within the battle between Israel and Hamas.
Each Israel and Hamas have rejected the allegations.
In February, US President Donald Trump imposed financial sanctions towards the ICC, together with towards its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, and mentioned the courtroom had “abused its energy”.
In Thursday’s announcement, the US state division mentioned two of the judges, Bossa and Ibáñez Carranza had authorised the ICC’s investigation towards US personnel in Afghanistan.
The opposite two judges, Alapini Gansou and Hohler, had dominated to challenge arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
