The Hague: The International Criminal Court on Friday hit back after US President Donald Trump slapped sanctions on the institution, vowing it would continue to provide “justice and hope” around the world.
The White House issued the executive order on Thursday in response to what it called “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel”. It was referring to the arrest warrant the ICC issued last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The Hague-based court said it “condemns” the move. “The Court stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world,” the court said in a statement.
“We call on our 125 States Parties, civil society and all nations of the world to stand united for justice and fundamental human rights,” it said
The order said the US will impose “tangible and significant consequences” on those responsible for the ICC’s “transgressions”. Actions may include blocking property and assets and not allowing ICC officials, employees and relatives to enter the United States.
Human rights groups also criticized the decision. “US sanctions against ICC officials would be a gift to those around the globe responsible for mass atrocities. Sanctions are for human rights violators, not those working to hold rights abusers to account,” Liz Evenson, international justice director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.
“Trump’s executive order borrows a page out of Russia’s playbook, which has sought to obstruct the court’s work through arrest warrants against its judges and prosecutor,” Evenson said. (AP)
