International Criminal Court Slams New US Sanctions as ‘Flagrant Attack’ Against Its Independence
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has responded to a new round of US sanctions targeting its president and a senior prosecutor, calling them "a flagrant attack" against the court.
UNITED NATIONS, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 20th Aug, 2026) "These sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution which operates pursuant to the mandate conferred by its States Parties from across regions,"** the ICC, based in The Hague, wrote in a statement.
The sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans, and restrictions on services from US companies.
Established in 2002
The ICC, established under the Rome Statute, is a separate institution from the UN, though the Security Council may refer cases to it. It prosecutes individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression with the consent of countries that have signed the Rome Statute.
UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric expressed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ serious concern about the latest US action "as well as the ongoing designation of other International Criminal Court employees."
The US, which is not a party to the Rome Statute, has expressed worries that the ICC poses a threat to its national sovereignty, fearing it could prosecute US citizens for grave crimes allegedly committed in countries recognizing the court’s authority.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced fresh sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. Prior sanctions targeted former top prosecutor Karim Khan, who has since been removed from his post.
According to media reports, Seye played a role in the investigation into Israeli funding for illegal settlements in the West Bank and the alleged distribution of weapons to settlers. In November 2024, the ICC under prosecutor Karim Khan issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, alleging war crimes relating to the war against Hamas in Gaza.
"The Trump Administration has been clear: the International Criminal Court is a corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate," Rubio stated.
These sanctions build on previous US actions under both President Donald Trump and Rubio’s July 13th announcement that the US intended to "dismantle" the ICC’s perceived threat to US sovereignty.
