JERUSALEM – Critics of the International Criminal Court (ICC) contend that President Trump’s executive order imposing sanctions on the Hague-based court will shield U.S. military and government personnel from potential prosecution by what they view as a flawed international judicial body.
Richard Goldberg, a former Trump National Security Council member, stated that this action is crucial for protecting American officials from unwarranted legal challenges he describes as “lawfare” by those he terms “radical anti-Americans” within what he calls a biased court. He further argued that while Israel is currently in the spotlight, the ICC’s actions against the U.S. for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan remain a concern.
Goldberg, a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, added that the ICC officials have overstepped their authority, using international law as a weapon against the U.S. and Israel. He noted that the sanctions, targeting officials and service providers but not the court itself, allow for further action, such as shutting down the court entirely if the “lawfare” continues.
The ICC responded with a statement condemning the U.S. executive order, asserting that it undermines the court’s independent and impartial work. The ICC pledged continued support for its personnel and its mission to deliver justice to victims of atrocities worldwide, urging its member states and the global community to uphold justice and human rights.
Trump signed the executive order on Thursday in response to the ICC’s May 2024 arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Netanyahu praised the order, thanking President Trump for defending both America and Israel from what he called an anti-American and antisemitic court lacking jurisdiction. He characterized the ICC’s actions against Israel as a prelude to targeting America. Netanyahu stated that Trump’s order protects the sovereignty of both nations and their military personnel.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called Trump’s sanctions “absolutely understandable,” describing the ICC as a biased political tool and indicating Hungary is reviewing its cooperation with the court.
Dozens of countries voiced unwavering support for the ICC on Friday, a day after Trump authorized sanctions against the court’s staff. A joint statement from nearly 80 countries reaffirmed their support for the ICC’s independence, impartiality, and integrity, emphasizing its role in ensuring accountability for serious international crimes and justice for victims.
While the statement’s signatories represented various regions, they constituted approximately two-thirds of the ICC’s 125 member states.
Notable supporters included France, Germany, and Britain; Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Italy were among the absent countries.
Goldberg stated that the executive order followed Senate Democrats’ blocking of a GOP-led bill to sanction the ICC, suggesting that if Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer now supports the order, Republicans should swiftly codify it to force another vote.
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, blocked a GOP bill to sanction the ICC in January.
Reuters and ‘ Diana Stancy contributed to this article