The U.S sanctioned four ICC officials for pursuing war crimes cases against Americans and Israelis, prompting condemnation from the court and U.N., but praise from Israel.
The Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on four International Criminal Court officials over investigations into alleged U.S. and Israeli war crimes, escalating its long-running dispute with the tribunal.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday the penalties target ICC judges Kimberly Prost of Canada and Nicolas Guillou of France, along with prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal. Their U.S. assets will be frozen.
“These individuals are foreign persons who directly engaged in efforts … to prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel, without the consent of either nation,” Rubio said.
The ICC condemned the action as “a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution,” while U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric stressed the court had the world body’s “full support.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the sanctions, calling them “a firm measure against the mendacious smear campaign” targeting his government and military.
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