US sanctions more ICC judges, including French citizen, over Israel criticism

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on four more International Criminal Court judges or prosecutors, including from allies France and Canada, in a new effort to hobble the tribunal over Israel's genocide in Gaza. 

"The Court is a national security threat that has been an instrument for lawfare against the United States and our close ally Israel," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement, using a term popular with President Donald Trump's supporters.

Rubio said that the four people targeted from the tribunal based in The Hague had sought to investigate or prosecute nationals from the United States or Israel "without the consent of either nation."

The four include Judge Nicolas Guillou of France, who is presiding over a case in which an arrest warrant was issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

France on Wednesday expressed its "dismay" over the sanctions on its citizen, which would bar him from transacting in US dollars and travelling to the US. The sanctions, if enforced, could lead to secondary sanctions on EU banks. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the move.