US sanctions ICC judges over arrest warrants for Israeli officials

Washington has imposed sanctions on four judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing them of taking part in what it calls “illegitimate and baseless” actions against the United States and its ally, Israel.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the move on Thursday, naming the targeted judges as Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou of Benin, and Beti Hohler of Slovenia.

Two of the judges had approved arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and the use of starvation as a weapon during Israel’s assault on Gaza. The other two had backed investigations into US personnel accused of abuses during the war in Afghanistan.

“As ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel,” Rubio said.

“The ICC is politicised and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge, and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies. This dangerous assertion and abuse of power infringes upon the sovereignty and national security of the United States and our allies, including Israel,” he added in post on X.