U.S. sanctions 4 Worldwide Prison Court docket judges, claiming they abused energy
The Trump administration issued sanctions on 4 people serving as judges of the Worldwide Prison Court docket, citing the courtroom’s “politicization and abuse of energy,” after one ruling authorizing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and one other concentrating on the actions of U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.
Final 12 months, Judges Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou and Beti Hohler, from the courtroom’s pretrial and trial division, dominated to authorize the issuance of arrest warrants concentrating on Netanyahu and former Minister of Protection Yoav Gallant, the State Division stated.
Judges Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda and Luz Del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, from the ICC’s appeals division have been a part of a workforce that paved the way in which for the opening of an ICC investigation into alleged crimes dedicated by U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.
“As ICC judges, these 4 people have actively engaged within the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions concentrating on America or our shut ally, Israel,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in an announcement. “The ICC is politicized and falsely claims unfettered discretion to research, cost, and prosecute nationals of the USA and our allies.”
Neither the U.S. nor Israel is get together to the Rome Statute that established the ICC.
The ICC stated in an announcement that the measures have been “a transparent try and undermine the independence of a world judicial establishment.”
“Focusing on these working for accountability does nothing to assist civilians trapped in battle,” the tribunal stated.
In November 2024, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, in addition to three senior Hamas leaders. The transfer drew protests from the Biden administration, with the previous president calling it “outrageous.”
Khan stepped away from his position final month amid a UN-led sexual misconduct probe.
Throughout President Trump’s first time period in workplace, the U.S. authorities imposed sanctions — later lifted by the Biden administration — on ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and senior official Phakiso Mochochoko for his or her investigation of alleged struggle crimes by the U.S. army in Afghanistan. Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued visa restrictions on different ICC officers and their members of the family.
The transfer is more likely to be welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin — in March 2023, the courtroom additionally issued an arrest warrant for him.
