TEHRAN – US President Donald Trump embarrassingly slaps the International Criminal Court (ICC) that issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also known as Bibi.
Trump criticized the ICC for issuing an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, expelling Israeli war minister Joab Gallant, calling the move an attack on “US and Israeli sovereignty.”
The US president, who signed an executive order after Congress refused to support the move, issued a sharp warning to the ICC.
He has allowed the freeze on US-based assets belonging to ICC officials involved in investigations targeting US citizens and their allies, Israel.
The order also prohibits ICC judicial officers and their near-kinds from entering the United States.
Trump asserts that the United States is “strongly opposed to any action the court has taken against its close ally, Israel,” and hopes that the allies will adopt a similar stance.
The move highlights Trump’s rebellious stance in protecting US officials from accountability for war crimes, and has made Israeli leaders internationally against the numerous war crimes committed during the 15-month Gaza conflict. This is consistent with his broader efforts to protect him from prosecution.
The measure coincided with Netanyahu’s visit to Washington.
On Friday, the ICC denounced Trump’s actions, calling “125 political parties, civil society, and all nations in the world unite for justice and fundamental human rights.”
“The court will continue to provide justice and hope to its staff and millions of innocent victims around the world in all previous circumstances. “Stay strong,” he added in the statement.
In December, Judge Akane, president of the War Court, warned that sanctions “will quickly undermine the operation of the court in all circumstances and cases, putting its very existence at risk.”
The Netherlands, the court’s host country, also said it regretted the sanctions.
“The court’s work is essential to the fight against immunity,” Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said in a social media post.
The United Nations sharply condemned Trump’s decision on Friday, urging him to quickly reverse the controversial move.
This step is not the first of its kind. Trump had imposed sanctions on the ICC in 2020 in response to an investigation into war crimes committed by US military in Afghanistan.
Anti-war activists lashed out at Trump’s latest move, accusing it of a deliberate attempt to protect Netanyahu and Gallant from the ICC’s jurisdiction.
They accused the Israeli Prime Minister and his former security minister of masterminding war crimes in Gaza’s genocide, claiming that “they must be held responsible.”
The ICC is a permanent international court established to prosecute individuals with the most heinous crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and attack crimes.
It is an obligation to hold individuals liable for these atrocities, whether they are carried out within the territory of the Member States, ensuring justice for serious violations of the National Law.
In February 2025, the Hague-based court issued a warrant for Netanyahu and Gallant, condemning war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza War.
The evidence was submitted to the court and from October 8, 2023 to May 20, 2024, Netanyahu and Gallant were responsible for war crimes as ways of war, as well as crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution. was shown. Other inhumane acts.
Despite Trump’s actions, the ICC is committed to continuing his work, making its staff a strong indication that they will not be threatened by the White House.