U.S. to Sanction ICC Over Probe Into Israeli War Crimes

Date: 23 September 2025 - 22:09

News ID: ۱۴۳۸۳۲

WASHINGTON (Dispatches) -- The U.S. is considering imposing sanctions against the entirety of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its investigations into Israeli war crimes, according to six sources cited by Reuters.
These “entity sanctions” are expected to be imposed soon, the sources said.
According to the report, ICC officials have “already held emergency internal meetings to discuss the impact of potential blanket sanctions.” ICC member state diplomats have also held discussions on the matter.
One of the sources said “entity-wide sanctions were being weighed,” but did not specify any timing.
The sanctions could negatively impact the court’s daily operations, including its ability to pay salaries and access its bank accounts or computer software.
Three sources told Reuters that ICC employees have received this month’s payment in advance.
Diplomatic sources said ICC states would attempt to take a stance against the potential sanctions at the ongoing UN General Assembly session.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the court was trying to assert its “purported jurisdiction” over U.S. and Israeli officials, adding that Washington will be taking further action.
Neither the U.S. nor Israel is a signatory to the Rome Statute or a member of the ICC.
Washington has already been targeting the court with sanctions as it vowed to do after the ICC issued arrest warrants against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes in Gaza.
U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order imposing asset freezes and travel sanctions on ICC staff and their families, including chief prosecutor Karim Khan.
The American Servicemembers’ Protection Act of 2002, nicknamed the “Hague Invasion Act,” authorizes a U.S. president to use “all means necessary and appropriate” to free any U.S. or allied personnel detained by the ICC.
In April, the ICC reversed its dismissal of Israel’s objection to the arrest warrants issued against Netanyahu and Gallant.
The decision was seen as a move in favor of Israel.
Le Monde reported in early August that the U.S. and Israel carried out a nearly year-long campaign to pressure the ICC in a bid to prevent the warrants from being issued.
According to a report by The Guardian from May last year, Tel Aviv has waged a years-long intimidation campaign against the ICC – which included the “stalking” and “threatening” of its officials – in an effort to stifle investigations into Israeli war crimes.