Trump Administration Sanctions Four ICC Judges Over War Crimes Investigations in Afghanistan and Gaza

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

In a dramatic escalation of tensions with the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on four ICC judges involved in authorizing war crimes investigations against U.S. personnel and Israeli leaders.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions late Thursday, accusing the ICC of being “politicized” and unlawfully targeting U.S. and allied nationals. The targeted judges include:

1. Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, 2. Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, 3. Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin and 4. Beti Hohler of Slovenia

Rubio stated: “As ICC judges, these individuals have actively engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel. The ICC falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate and prosecute nationals of sovereign countries.”

Judges Bossa and Carranza were also part of a 2020 ICC appeals chamber ruling that permitted the prosecutor to formally investigate alleged U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan.

The ICC condemned the sanctions as an attack on international justice and an effort to intimidate independent judges.

“This is a blatant attempt to undermine the court’s judicial independence and its role in providing justice to victims of atrocities worldwide,” the ICC said in a statement from The Hague.

The sanctions complicate the judges’ ability to conduct financial transactions globally. Under U.S. sanctions law, any financial institution with U.S. ties or transacting in U.S. dollars must comply with the restrictions. However, the Treasury Department has issued temporary general licenses:

• Transactions involving the sanctioned judges may continue until July 8, 2025,
• Payments must be made to blocked, interest-bearing U.S.-based accounts.

The move is likely to provoke further backlash from international legal institutions and human rights organizations, as the ICC’s authority comes under renewed threat from a major global power.

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