Trump Announces Sanctions

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President Donald Trump's administration

President Donald Trump's administration

President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two

on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two

on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two judges and two prosecutors at the

judges and two prosecutors at the

judges and two prosecutors at the International Criminal Court as

International Criminal Court as

International Criminal Court as Washington ramped up its pressure on the

Washington ramped up its pressure on the

Washington ramped up its pressure on the war tribunal over its targeting of

war tribunal over its targeting of

war tribunal over its targeting of Israeli leaders and a past decision to

Israeli leaders and a past decision to

Israeli leaders and a past decision to investigate US officials. In a

investigate US officials. In a

investigate US officials. In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco

statement, US Secretary of State Marco

statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the court a national

Rubio called the court a national

Rubio called the court a national security threat that has been an

security threat that has been an

security threat that has been an instrument for lawfare against the

instrument for lawfare against the

instrument for lawfare against the United States and Israel. Washington

United States and Israel. Washington

United States and Israel. Washington designated Nicolas Yan Gillu of France,

designated Nicolas Yan Gillu of France,

designated Nicolas Yan Gillu of France, Nazat Shamim Khan of Fiji, Mame Mandaya

Nazat Shamim Khan of Fiji, Mame Mandaya

Nazat Shamim Khan of Fiji, Mame Mandaya Nyang of Sagal, and Kimberly Prost of

Nyang of Sagal, and Kimberly Prost of

Nyang of Sagal, and Kimberly Prost of Canada. According to the US Treasury and

Canada. According to the US Treasury and

Canada. According to the US Treasury and State Department, all officials have

State Department, all officials have

State Department, all officials have been involved in cases linked to Israel

been involved in cases linked to Israel

been involved in cases linked to Israel and the United States. United States has

and the United States. United States has

and the United States. United States has been clear and steadfast in our

been clear and steadfast in our

been clear and steadfast in our opposition to the ICC's politicization,

opposition to the ICC's politicization,

opposition to the ICC's politicization, abuse of power, disregard for our

abuse of power, disregard for our

abuse of power, disregard for our national sovereignty, and illegitimate

national sovereignty, and illegitimate

national sovereignty, and illegitimate judicial overreach. Rubio said the

judicial overreach. Rubio said the

judicial overreach. Rubio said the second round of sanctions comes less

second round of sanctions comes less

second round of sanctions comes less than three months after the

than three months after the

than three months after the administration took the unprecedented

administration took the unprecedented

administration took the unprecedented step of slapping sanctions on four

step of slapping sanctions on four

step of slapping sanctions on four separate IC judges. It represents a

separate IC judges. It represents a

separate IC judges. It represents a serious escalation that will likely

serious escalation that will likely

serious escalation that will likely impede the functioning of the court and

impede the functioning of the court and

impede the functioning of the court and the prosecutor's office as they deal

the prosecutor's office as they deal

the prosecutor's office as they deal with major cases, including war crime

with major cases, including war crime

with major cases, including war crime allegations against Russia over its

allegations against Russia over its

allegations against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. IC which had

invasion of Ukraine. IC which had

invasion of Ukraine. IC which had slammed the move in June as an attempt

slammed the move in June as an attempt

slammed the move in June as an attempt to undermine the independence of the

to undermine the independence of the

to undermine the independence of the judicial institution and the office of

judicial institution and the office of

judicial institution and the office of the prosecutor did not have immediate

the prosecutor did not have immediate

the prosecutor did not have immediate comment. ICC judges issued arrest

comment. ICC judges issued arrest

comment. ICC judges issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister

warrants for Israeli Prime Minister

warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli

Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli

Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Chief Yoav Galant, and Hamas

Defense Chief Yoav Galant, and Hamas

Defense Chief Yoav Galant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al- Masri last November

leader Ibrahim Al- Masri last November

leader Ibrahim Al- Masri last November for alleged war crimes and crimes

for alleged war crimes and crimes

for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza

against humanity during the Gaza

against humanity during the Gaza conflict. In March 2020, prosecutors

conflict. In March 2020, prosecutors

conflict. In March 2020, prosecutors opened an investigation in Afghanistan

opened an investigation in Afghanistan

opened an investigation in Afghanistan that included looking into possible

that included looking into possible

that included looking into possible crimes by US troops. But since 2021, it

crimes by US troops. But since 2021, it

crimes by US troops. But since 2021, it has deprioritized the role of the US and

has deprioritized the role of the US and

has deprioritized the role of the US and focused on alleged crimes committed by

focused on alleged crimes committed by

focused on alleged crimes committed by the Afghan government and the Taliban

the Afghan government and the Taliban

the Afghan government and the Taliban forces. The IC, which was established in

forces. The IC, which was established in

forces. The IC, which was established in 2002, has international jurisdiction to

2002, has international jurisdiction to

2002, has international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against

prosecute genocide, crimes against

prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in member

humanity, and war crimes in member

humanity, and war crimes in member states, or if a situation is referred by

states, or if a situation is referred by

states, or if a situation is referred by the UN Security Council. Although the IC

the UN Security Council. Although the IC

the UN Security Council. Although the IC has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes

has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes

has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in its

against humanity, and genocide in its

against humanity, and genocide in its 125 member countries, some nations,

125 member countries, some nations,

125 member countries, some nations, including the US, China, Russia, and

including the US, China, Russia, and

including the US, China, Russia, and Israel, do not recognize its authority.

Israel, do not recognize its authority.

Israel, do not recognize its authority. It has high-profile war crimes

It has high-profile war crimes

It has high-profile war crimes investigations underway into the Israel

investigations underway into the Israel

investigations underway into the Israel Hamas conflict and Russia's war in

Hamas conflict and Russia's war in

Hamas conflict and Russia's war in Ukraine as well as in Sudan, Myanmar,

Ukraine as well as in Sudan, Myanmar,

Ukraine as well as in Sudan, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Venezuela. The

the Philippines, and Venezuela. The

the Philippines, and Venezuela. The sanctions freeze any US assets the

sanctions freeze any US assets the

sanctions freeze any US assets the individuals may have and essentially cut

individuals may have and essentially cut

individuals may have and essentially cut them off from the US financial system.

them off from the US financial system.

them off from the US financial system. Gillu is an IC judge who presided over a

Gillu is an IC judge who presided over a

Gillu is an IC judge who presided over a pre-trial panel that issued the arrest

pre-trial panel that issued the arrest

pre-trial panel that issued the arrest warrant for Netanyahu.

warrant for Netanyahu.

warrant for Netanyahu. Khan and Nyang are the court's two

Khan and Nyang are the court's two

Khan and Nyang are the court's two deputy prosecutors. Netanyahu's office

deputy prosecutors. Netanyahu's office

deputy prosecutors. Netanyahu's office issued a statement welcoming the US

issued a statement welcoming the US

issued a statement welcoming the US sanctions. Canadian judge Kimberly Prost

sanctions. Canadian judge Kimberly Prost

sanctions. Canadian judge Kimberly Prost served on an IC appeals chamber that in

served on an IC appeals chamber that in

served on an IC appeals chamber that in March 2020 unanimously authorized the

March 2020 unanimously authorized the

March 2020 unanimously authorized the ICC prosecutor to investigate alleged

ICC prosecutor to investigate alleged

ICC prosecutor to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity

war crimes and crimes against humanity

war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Afghanistan since 2003

committed in Afghanistan since 2003

committed in Afghanistan since 2003 including examining the role of US

including examining the role of US

including examining the role of US service members. Global Affairs Canada

service members. Global Affairs Canada

service members. Global Affairs Canada and the Office of Canadian Foreign

and the Office of Canadian Foreign

and the Office of Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand did not

Affairs Minister Anita Anand did not

Affairs Minister Anita Anand did not immediately respond to requests for

immediately respond to requests for

immediately respond to requests for comment on the ICC sanctions, including

comment on the ICC sanctions, including

comment on the ICC sanctions, including against Prost. The Trump

against Prost. The Trump

against Prost. The Trump administration's dislike of the court

administration's dislike of the court

administration's dislike of the court goes back to his first term. In 2020,

goes back to his first term. In 2020,

goes back to his first term. In 2020, Washington imposed sanctions on then

Washington imposed sanctions on then

Washington imposed sanctions on then prosecutor Fatu Ben Suda and one of her

prosecutor Fatu Ben Suda and one of her

prosecutor Fatu Ben Suda and one of her top aids over the court's work on

top aids over the court's work on

top aids over the court's work on Afghanistan. Stan.