Trump Imposes Sanctions on ICC Over Israel and US War Crimes Probes

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced fresh sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), condemning its investigations into alleged war crimes by American forces in Afghanistan and Israeli troops in Gaza.

In an executive order signed Thursday, Trump accused the Hague-based tribunal of “abusing its power” after it issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The order imposes asset freezes and travel bans on ICC officials, employees, and anyone assisting in the investigations.

Backing Israel Amid Rising Tensions

The move follows a meeting between Trump and Netanyahu at the White House earlier this week, during which Trump unveiled a controversial proposal for U.S. intervention in Gaza. The ICC’s arrest warrants—issued in November 2024—target Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, accusing them of war crimes.

Trump’s sanctions mark a return to his administration’s hostile stance toward the ICC. In 2020, his government imposed similar restrictions after the court launched a probe into U.S. military actions in Afghanistan. Although President Joe Biden lifted those sanctions in 2021, his administration also condemned the ICC’s latest actions against Israel, calling them “outrageous.”

Political and Legal Fallout

The ICC has not yet responded to Trump’s decision, but international legal experts suggest that the sanctions could increase tensions between the U.S. and global human rights organizations. Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress remains divided—while House Republicans recently passed a bill supporting Trump’s sanctions, Senate Democrats blocked it, warning of possible diplomatic repercussions.

With the ICC’s investigations ongoing, Trump’s move is expected to deepen geopolitical divisions surrounding international law, war crimes accountability, and U.S.-Israel relations.