The International Criminal Court (ICC) expressed disdain over new U.S. sanctions targeting its judges and prosecutors, which were announced by the U.S. State Department on Wednesday. The sanctions specifically affect two ICC judges and two prosecutors involved in potential indictments against U.S. and Israeli citizens, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been accused of war crimes in Gaza.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the ICC a “national security threat,” while Netanyahu praised the sanctions as a defense against a “false smear campaign.” France condemned the U.S. actions as undermining judicial independence, and one ICC judge, Nicholas Guillow, expressed disappointment regarding the sanctions.
The sanctions prevent the targeted officials from accessing assets within the U.S., following earlier restrictions imposed on ICC’s lead prosecutor, Karim Khan. The UN’s human rights director criticized the sanctions as detrimental to the rule of law.
Additionally, Francesca Albanese, a UN rapporteur known for her criticisms of Israel, was also mentioned in connection to the sanctions due to her support for the ICC. Albanese reaffirmed her commitment to the court’s principles in a social media post.
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