Washington, February 7, 2025 – The Europe Today: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the institution of engaging in “illegitimate and baseless actions” targeting the United States and its close ally, Israel. The executive order, signed as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington, places financial and visa restrictions on individuals and their families who assist in ICC investigations involving American citizens or their allies.
The order follows the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant last November for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who faces accusations of war crimes related to the Gaza conflict, allegations that Israel denies. The ICC also issued a warrant for a Hamas commander in the same case.
A White House memo circulated Thursday condemned the ICC’s actions, stating that the court created a “shameful moral equivalency” between Hamas and Israel by issuing the warrants simultaneously. The memo further criticized the ICC for setting a “dangerous precedent” that exposes Americans to “harassment, abuse, and possible arrest.”
The executive order emphasized that the ICC’s actions jeopardize the sovereignty of the United States and undermine national security and foreign policy, particularly in relation to Israel. The U.S. has long been opposed to the ICC’s jurisdiction over American officials and citizens, as the U.S. is not a member of the court.
This move is the latest in the ongoing tension between the U.S. and the ICC, as the Trump administration has repeatedly rejected any legal authority the court claims over American citizens.
