Trump signed a decree that provides for sanctions against the International Criminal Court, accused of undertaking ‘unlawful and unfounded actions against the United States and our narrow ally, Israel’
The International Criminal Court () condemned, on Friday (7), the decision of the president of the United States, to impose sanctions on the institution for his actions against Israeli authorities and promised to continue working for justice in the world.
“The TPI condemns the issuance by the United States of an executive order that aims to impose sanctions on its employees and harm its independent and impartial judicial work,” says a statement issued by the Haia -based court.
“The court firmly supports its employees and promises to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities around the world, in all situations in which it uses it,” the ICC added.
The court had already been criticized in the United States for issuing arrest orders against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, received on Tuesday (4) at the White House by Trump, and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.
Judges considered, in issuing arrest orders, that there are “reasonable motives” to suspect both in the execution of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza War, which began after the unprecedented attack of the Islamist group Hamas in territory Israeli on October 7, 2023.
Trump signed a decree that provides for sanctions against the ICC, accused of undertaking “illegal and unfounded actions against the United States and our narrow ally, Israel.” The text, released on Thursday by the White House, prohibits entry into the United States of TPI directors, employees and agents, as well as his closest relatives and anyone who has helped in the court’s investigation work.
The decree also provides to freeze in the United States all the assets of the affected people, who have not had the names disclosed so far.
“Threat”
Israel congratulated Trump on Friday and called the court’s actions “immoral” and illegitimate. “I warmly congratulate President Trump,” said Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Saar, on social network X. “TPI aggressively pursues the elected leaders of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East,” he added.
The European Council called the American decree “threat” to the independence of the international justice. “Sanctioning the ICC threatens the independence of the court and weakens the entire international justice system,” he said on the social network X António Costa, who chairs the EU heads of state and government heads.
The UN joined the concerns said to regret Washington’s initiative. The organization has asked Trump to reconsider the measure. “We deeply regret the individual sanctions announced yesterday against the court’s employees and asked the measure to be reversed,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesman for the UN Human Rights Office.
United States, Israel and Russia are not members of the ICC, a permanent jurisdiction responsible for investigating and judging individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The court was founded in 2002 and has 124 member states. Since its inception, TPI has issued few convictions.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Carolina Ferreira
