US imposes sanctions on ICC judges over Netanyahu arrest warrant

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC), including two who were involved in issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes committed in Gaza.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures, which bar the judges from entering the US and freeze any assets under US jurisdiction—sanctions typically used against US adversaries, not jurists.

Washington doubles down on Israeli impunity
Rubio defended the decision by vowing to “protect our sovereignty, that of Israel, and any other U.S. ally from illegitimate actions by the ICC.” The remarks signal an escalation in Washington’s campaign to shield Israeli leaders from accountability for crimes committed during their ongoing assault on Gaza.

Netanyahu praised the decision, thanking President Donald Trump and Rubio for “standing up for the right of Israel,” despite growing international consensus that Israel’s conduct in Gaza may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
ICC Defends Its Mandate Amid Growing Pressure
Meanwhile, the ICC condemned the sanctions, calling them “a clear attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution.” The court, based in The Hague, operates under a mandate ratified by 125 State Parties, including many key US allies.

The sanctioned judges—Beti Hohler (Slovenia), Reine Alapini-Gansou (Benin), Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza (Peru), and Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda)—were involved in proceedings related to both the war on Gaza and US war crimes in Afghanistan.
Human rights groups slam “brazen” US threat
Human Rights Watch condemned the sanctions as an attempt to “deter the ICC from seeking accountability amid grave crimes committed in Israel and Palestine,” particularly as Israeli atrocities in Gaza mount, with direct US support.

The Gaza investigation resulted in arrest warrants for both Netanyahu and former Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant. The court said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe the two were criminally responsible for war crimes, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
US and ‘Israel’: Outside the ICC, but not beyond its reach
Although neither the United States nor “Israel” are parties to the Rome Statute, the ICC has jurisdiction over crimes committed in Palestine, a State Party since 2015. The court also holds jurisdiction over any crimes committed on the territory of member states or by their nationals.

Former US President Joe Biden’s administration had adopted a more cooperative tone toward the ICC, particularly during its investigation into alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Under Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the US lifted Trump-era sanctions on court officials and expressed support for international justice on a selective, case-by-case basis. However, this posture shifted dramatically once the court turned its attention to Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The same administration that welcomed the ICC’s pursuit of accountability in Russia echoed the rhetoric of delegitimization when similar standards are applied to its ally, “Israel”.