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International Criminal Court: Trump imposes sanctions | How does ICC work?

On February 6, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump authorized economic and travel sanctions against individuals involved in International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations targeting U.S. citizens or allies like Israel, a move echoing actions from his first term. This decision coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, with Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and Hamas leaders facing ICC arrest warrants for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The ICC, established in 2002, prosecutes genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression. While its 124 signatory states are legally obligated to arrest individuals under ICC warrants, enforcement relies on state cooperation. There have been cases of non-compliance, such as Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, and Russia's 2016 withdrawal from the Rome Statute. Leaders like Russia's Vladimir Putin, Israel's Netanyahu, and Hamas leaders face ICC warrants, though they have denied the charges, with critics questioning the ICC’s impartiality and decision-making.

first published: Feb 7, 2025 09:54 pm