President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its investigations of Israel, a key U.S. ally. The U.S. and Israel do not recognize the court, which issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes related to Gaza in 2023. Trump’s order accuses the ICC of illegitimate targeting of the U.S. and Israel, citing baseless actions against Netanyahu and former defense minister, Yoav Gallant. The order asserts the ICC has no jurisdiction over the U.S. or Israel and sets a dangerous precedent.

Sanctions may include blocking assets and entry into the U.S. for ICC officials. Critics argue that this move undermines global justice and free speech, hindering accountability for human rights abuses. The U.S., like Israel, is not an ICC member and has historically been wary of potential prosecution of U.S. officials by an unelected court.

While Trump’s predecessor lifted previous sanctions, current tensions have escalated with threats to crush the court and economies enforcing the arrest warrant against Netanyahu. Biden and Trump’s advisers have criticized the warrants, with concerns about potential anti-Semitic bias. Any sanctions could impede the court’s operations, impacting investigators’ mobility and technological capabilities.

The U.S.’s relationship with the ICC is complex, involving past involvement in the court’s establishment but subsequent opposition under different administrations. European countries are urging cooperation to mitigate the impact of possible sanctions. The U.S.’s stance reflects longstanding skepticism towards the ICC and concerns about protecting national interests.