In a bold move, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to what he described as “illegitimate and baseless” charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The sanctions come after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in May 2024, following the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Trump’s executive order introduces financial sanctions and travel restrictions against ICC officials. The United States has long been critical of the ICC, and the sanctions are seen as a strong rebuke to the court’s decision to issue the warrant against Netanyahu, which accuses him of war crimes during the conflict in Gaza.
The ICC also issued a warrant for a top Hamas commander.
The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, is an international body responsible for investigating and prosecuting individuals accused of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.
However, the U.S. government has expressed opposition to its jurisdiction, especially when it involves American allies like Israel.
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“The U.S. will impose tangible & significant consequences on those responsible for the ICC’s transgressions,” the order stated.
The warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest, pushed by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan from the UK, sparked controversy, as Netanyahu’s supporters deny any wrongdoing in the Gaza conflict.
If Netanyahu were to travel to certain countries, including the U.K. and France, he could be at risk of arrest due to the ICC warrant. Khan also issued arrest warrants for Hamas leaders, some of whom have since been killed.
Netanyahu was in Washington, D.C., when Trump signed the order. He met with the U.S. president and other high-ranking officials during the visit, becoming the first foreign leader to meet with Trump since his inauguration.
In addition to targeting the ICC, Trump also signed an executive order to establish a task force within the Department of Justice to address what he called “anti-Christian bias.”
The task force, chaired by Attorney General Pam Bondi, will review federal policies to identify any that may be seen as discriminatory toward Christians and will collaborate with faith-based organizations to protect religious freedoms. The first report from the task force is due within 120 days.
