TEHRAN – The Trump administration’s recent sanctions on four International Criminal Court judges have marked a historic increase in the US against the ICC, raising serious concerns about the future of international accountability and justice.
The sanctions were intended for judges who were considering allegations that US military committed war crimes in Afghanistan, and for those who issued a warrant for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu. Sanctions have been strongly condemned by the ICC, the European Union, the United Nations and human rights groups around the world.
The US sanctions announced on June 5, 2025 include four ICC judges, Solomi Barung Gibosa (Uganda), Ruz del Carmen Ibañez Carranza (Peru), Rain Adelaide Sophie Arapini Ganso (Benin), and Betty Holler (Slovenia). jurisdiction. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the sanctions by saying that the judges were doing “illegal and unfounded” things that hurt the United States and Israel without their permission.
He surrounded the ICC as politically motivated and exaggerated its authority. The move follows a pattern of hostility from the Trump administration to the ICC, including previous sanctions against court prosecutors over investigations of US military actions in Afghanistan.
The ICC quickly condemned sanctions and said that it was clear that they undermine the independence of organizations established by 125 countries to achieve accountability for victims of serious crimes such as genocide and war crimes.
They observed that judges and officials who fulfill this duty granted uncommon forces to misconduct and biased victims who seek justice. The ICC emphasized that sanctions could undermine the rule of law and global peace.
Most of the world supports ICC. The European Union, including the nationality of one of the punished judges, said that US actions were an attack on judicial independence and sought the integrity of the ICC to be protected. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said the courts are extremely important to hold criminals accountable and to give voice to victims.
Volker Turk, the UN’s human rights director, told the US to lift the sanctions. He said punishing judges for doing their work is against the fundamental principles of the rule of law that the United States says stands for. Antonio Costa, president of the Council of Europe, agreed, saying the ICC would fight immunity rather than hostile to the country.
Sanctions also reveal the deeply political nature of US support for Israel in this context. The ICC’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu and former Israeli war minister Yoav Gallant is related to war crimes during the Gaza conflict.
The United States often protects Israel from facing international criticism, and these sanctions are a clear way of using economic and political forces to prevent allies from taking responsibility. Netanyahu even thanked the Trump administration for supporting him for what he called a “politicized judge” at the ICC.
This partnership appears to appreciate geopolitical goals more than fair justice, making it difficult for the ICC to investigate serious crimes against humanity.
Human rights defenders criticized the sanctions as an attack on the rule of law. Liz Ebenson of Human Rights Watch was called a “substantial attack” aimed at discouraging the ICC from investigating serious violations, including those in Gaza.
U.S. sanctions against ICC judges set a dangerous precedent for international law enforcement. Strong countries use political and economic measures to block legal proceedings and exempt allies of liability.
This action weakens the international framework of justice, raises doubts on the independence of the ICC, and sends a disturbing message that the pursuit of justice for the victims of the most serious crimes could be subordinated to geopolitical interests.
The widespread international condemnation highlights how important it is to maintain the ICC’s mission and ensures that politics does not hinder international justice. Without this dedication, the victims of the atrocities will not receive the justice they are due, and immunity will rule.