President Donald Trump
has signed an executive order sanctioning the International Criminal Court
(ICC), accusing it of “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and
our close ally Israel”.
Trump signed the
measure as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visited Washington.
The measure places financial and visa restrictions on individuals and their
families who assist in ICC investigations of American citizens or allies
Last year November, the
ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza,
which Israel denies. The ICC also issued a warrant for a Hamas commander.
The ICC had earlier
stated that there were “reasonable grounds” that Netanyahu, his former Defence
Minister, Yoav Gallant, and Mohammed Deif of Hamas bore “criminal
responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The US and Israel are
not members of the court but more than 120 countries are members, including the
UK and many European nations. The Netherlands, which hosts the court, said it
“regrets” Trump’s order. “The court’s work is essential in the fight against
impunity,” Dutch Foreign Minister, Caspar Veldkamp stated this on X.
A White House memo
circulated on the 6th February, 2025 accused the Hague-based ICC of
creating a “shameful moral equivalency” between Hamas and Israel by issuing the
warrants at the same time.
Trump’s executive order
said the ICC’s recent actions “set a dangerous precedent” that endangered
Americans by exposing them to “harassment, abuse and possible arrest”. In a
post on X on Friday, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar said he “strongly”
commended Trump’s executive order. The US has repeatedly rejected any
jurisdiction by the body over American officials or citizens, and has accused
the ICC of placing constraints on Israel’s right to self-defence, while
ignoring Iran and anti-Israel groups.