|By Adejumo Adekunle
The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC), reinforcing Washington’s firm support for Israel amid mounting international criticism of Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territories.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation of two ICC judges—Gocha Lordkipanidze of Georgia and Erdenebalsuren Damdin of Mongolia—under Executive Order 14203. The sanctions target what the US describes as actions taken against Israeli nationals without Israel’s consent.
Rubio accused the judges of engaging in efforts to “investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute Israeli nationals,” citing their vote against Israel’s appeal on December 15 as part of the justification for the move. He reiterated that the United States is not a party to the ICC and considers the court an institution that “infringes on US sovereignty” and lacks adequate safeguards against political manipulation.
According to the Secretary of State, the absence of such safeguards raises the risk of politically motivated prosecutions, including potential cases against American citizens. He recalled that previous US administrations have sanctioned ICC officials involved in probes concerning US personnel, describing Washington’s engagement with the court as limited and selective.
“The United States cooperates with the ICC in certain instances, but our relationship remains complex,” Rubio said.
The ICC swiftly condemned the sanctions, describing them as “a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution.” In a statement, the court said it operates under a mandate granted by its States Parties across multiple regions and remains committed to its judicial responsibilities.
The court pledged continued support for its staff and for “the victims of unimaginable atrocities,” insisting it would carry out its mandate independently, impartially, and in the interest of those affected by international crimes.
Meanwhile, several European countries—including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Spain, and the Netherlands—have publicly reaffirmed their support for the ICC, underscoring the need for the court to function as an autonomous and independent judicial body.
