Trump sanctions ICC over Israel war crimes charges
President of the USA, Donald Trump, 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 is a result of an arrest warrant issued for the Prime Minister of Israel on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
President Trump decided to enforce sanctions on the ICC and individuals supporting its actions against Americans and allies, including Israel. This decision comes in 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 provides for full financial and visa sanctions for individuals involved in ICC activities, concerning the investigation, arrest, detention, or prosecution of U.S. citizens and representatives of allied nations. Sanctions will also apply to those materially supporting the ICC.
Reactions to the decision
According to the executive order, the sanctions could also impact authorities of countries that choose to arrest the Israeli Prime Minister in accordance with the Tribunal's order.
"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 was criticized by ICC President Tomoko Akane, who had 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 secure 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.
Simultaneously, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, 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 October 7, 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 likely no longer alive.
In response to the attack, Israel initiated airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and, subsequently, a ground operation, declaring its goal was to destroy Hamas and free the hostages. A ceasefire is ongoing.
According to local authorities, over more than a year of war, more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed. This count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Still, the Gaza Strip authorities claim a large portion of the victims are civilians, mainly children, as confirmed by estimates from organizations like the UN. As a result, the Gaza Strip is devastated, a humanitarian crisis prevails, and most residents have had to flee their homes.
