According to ISNA , US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a statement that Tomoko Akane, the Japanese president of the International Criminal Court, and the court’s chief prosecutor, Abdullah Saye, have been targeted for sanctions.
“These individuals are directly involved in the court’s efforts to arrest, detain, or prosecute individuals whose governments do not accept the court’s judgment,” he said in the statement, according to CNN.
The International Criminal Court said in a statement in response to the US move that “the new sanctions undermine the rule of law.” The statement continued: “The Court will continue to work vigorously and stand by its victims and staff in the face of unimaginable tyranny and tyranny. The Court will continue to fully carry out its mission with independence and impartiality, in full compliance with the Rome Statute and for the benefit of victims of international crimes.”
The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on officials at the international tribunal over its efforts to investigate the United States and Israel, neither of which are members. US President Donald Trump’s criticism of the tribunal dates back to his first term, when his administration launched the tribunal to investigate war crimes by US forces in Afghanistan.
In November 2024, the international court issued arrest warrants for several officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The International Criminal Court also announced that it had found sufficient and credible evidence to show that Netanyahu committed war crimes during Israel’s military operation against Gaza, including the imposition of starvation as a means of war and crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
