Unlock Bulletin on White House Hour FREE
Your guide for what American choices 2024 means for Washington and the world
Donald Trump has put sanctions on the international criminal court officials who investigate the US and his allies like Israel, introducing politics from his first term.
In the executive command signed on Thursday, the US president put financial sanctions and blocked visas for Strong Employees and their families, in a move that coincided with the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahua in Washington. The order also applies to officials exploring American citizens.
The White House did not immediately appoint officials who were sanctioned.
The command says that the court is a threat to the “sovereignty” US, which “undermines the critical national security and foreign policy” of the country and allies like Israel.
ICC staff who are “responsible for” the “transgressions” of the court could freeze the assets, and they and their families could be blocked to enter the United States.
In November, ICC issued orders for the arrest of Netanyahu and his then Minister, Brana Yoava Gallant “for crimes against humanity and war crimes.”
The move marked the dramatic escalation of legal procedures over the offensive of Israel in Gazi-Koji killed about 47,000 people, according to Palestinian officials and marked the first time that the ICC had issued an order for a leader supporting the West.
The court also issued an order for the then leader of Hamas Mohammed Deifa for crimes against humanity and war crimes for attacking the group 7 October 2023.
The White House said that “by issuing an order for the arrest of Israeli officials and Hamas officials at the same time, ICC created a shameful moral equivalence.”
Trump’s executive order said “recent actions against Israel and the United States set up a dangerous precedent,” and that Washington “unambiguously opposed and expects our allies to oppose any ICC actions against the USA or Israel.
Neither now, Israel is members of the court or not recognizing its power.
ICC did not immediately respond to the comment request.
The orders of Israeli officials have been bound by ICC Member States – which include most of the European and Latin American countries, as well as some in Asia and Africa – arrest Netanyahu and Gallant If they cross their borders, although the court does not have a mechanism for implementation.
Joe Biden’s White House condemned the warrant when they were betrayed. France, a member of the ICC an American ally, in November he said that Netanyahu may have immunity from arrest For Israel was not the signatory of the Roman statute, which founded the court.
The Independent Court is headquartered in the Netherlands and was founded in 2002 for the persecution of the perpetrator of the genocide, a crime against humanity and war crimes.
Trump also took measures against ICC officials in 2020, approving the freezing of the property and blocking their family members to enter the US after the court began investigating the alleged action of USA Afghanistan.
