US President-elect Donald Trump’s administration is considering imposing sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to the court’s recent decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of Defense, Yoav Galant.
According to sources close to the administration, sanctions could be directed personally against ICC prosecutor Karim Khan and the judges involved in issuing the orders. Trump intends to use the move as a show of support for Israel and a strong response to accusations he considers unfair and politically motivated.
“The ICC decision continues the tradition of anti-Israel bias by international organizations such as the UN and its structures,” said a source close to Trump.
The Trump administration, known for its tough stance on protecting US allies, has taken similar actions against the ICC in the past. In 2020, Trump signed an executive order sanctioning judicial officials for investigations into U.S. troops who served in Afghanistan.
Planned sanctions could include a ban on entry into the United States, a freeze on assets on American soil and other restrictions, the sources said. These measures are intended to highlight Washington’s rejection of the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israel and US allies.
Trump is also considering a speech in which he seeks to call the ICC’s actions an example of institutional anti-Semitism. This step, in his opinion, is important to protect Israel and counter growing pressure from international organizations.
Previously, Kursor wrote that the Kremlin responded to the ICC by issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant.
