Trump's sweeping sanctions challenge ICC's jurisdiction
The President of the USA, Donald Trump, has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and individuals supporting its actions against the United States and its allies. This action follows the issuance of an arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Donald Trump decided to impose these sanctions on the International Criminal Court and individuals supporting its actions against Americans and allies, including Israel. This decision is a response to the ICC's arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Galant.
The executive order signed by Trump enforces full financial and visa sanctions on individuals involved in ICC activities related to the investigation, arrest, detention, or prosecution of U.S. citizens and representatives of allied states. Sanctions will also apply to those providing material support to the ICC.
Reactions to the decision
According to the executive order, the sanctions could also impact authorities of countries that decide to arrest the Israeli Prime Minister as per the Tribunal's directive.
"I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that the International Criminal Court (ICC), as established by the Rome Statute, has engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel," Trump wrote in the order.
Trump's decision faced criticism from the ICC President, Tomoko Akane, who previously warned that such sanctions could "rapidly undermine the Court's operations in all situations and cases and jeopardise its very existence."
Trump's executive order is almost identical to a bill previously passed by the House of Representatives but did not achieve a sufficient majority in the Senate.
Why did the ICC issue an arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister?
The arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Galant were issued on charges of war crimes, including using starvation as a method of warfare and intentionally directing attacks against civilians, and crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
At the same time, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, the leader of Hamas's armed wing, on charges of crimes against humanity, such as murder, torture, rape, and other forms of sexual violence. However, he was killed in an airstrike conducted by Israel.
War in the Gaza Strip
On 7 October 2023, Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, along with other Palestinian terrorist groups, attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 251. Nearly 100 hostages remain in the Gaza Strip. Some are suspected to be no longer alive.
In response to the attack, Israel initiated airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. Subsequently, it launched a ground operation in the region, declaring its objective to destroy Hamas and free the hostages. A ceasefire is currently in place.
According to local authorities, over more than a year of conflict, more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed. This figure does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Still, Gaza Strip authorities claim a large portion of the victims are civilians, mainly children, as confirmed by estimates from organisations like the UN. As a result of the conflict, the Gaza Strip is devastated, a humanitarian crisis prevails, and most residents have had to flee their homes.
