US sanctions international court judges over Netanyahu arrest warrant

The United States on Wednesday expanded its actions against the Criminal Court (ICC) over its prosecution of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, imposing sanctions on a French judge and others involved in the court's investigations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against Judge Nicolas Guillou of France, who is presiding over a case in which the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. A Canadian judge, Kimberly Prost, was also sanctioned in a separate case related to alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. Two deputy prosecutors, Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal,were also sanctioned.

Rubio described the ICC as “a national security threat” and said the court had become “an instrument for lawfare against the United States and our close ally Israel.” He criticised the court for investigating US and Israeli citizens without the consent of either country.

France, whose President Emmanuel Macron had visited Washington two days earlier, expressed “dismay” over the sanctions. A foreign ministry spokesman said the move was “in contradiction to the principle of an independent judiciary.” The ICC called the sanctions a “flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution.”

The court has alleged that Netanyahu is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel’s offensive in Gaza, including by intentionally targeting civilians and using starvation as a method of war. Netanyahu thanked Rubio for his “decisive act against a smear campaign of lies against the State of Israel” and the Israeli army.

Israel launched its military campaign in response to a Hamas attack in which mostly civilians were killed. The ICC has also sought the arrest of former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas commander Mohammed Deif, who has since been confirmed killed by Israel.

Judge Guillou has previously taken part in trials related to Kosovo and Lebanon. He also worked for several years in the United States assisting the Justice Department with judicial cooperation during the Obama administration. Under the US sanctions, Guillou will be barred from entering the United States and any assets he holds in the country will be blocked.

The Trump administration had also imposed sanctions on ICC officials and rejected the court’s authority. Rubio had earlier imposed sanctions on four other ICC judges in June.

The State Department said the two deputy prosecutors were sanctioned for supporting “illegitimate ICC actions against Israel,” including supporting the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.

Judge Prost, from Canada, was involved in a case that authorised an investigation into alleged crimes committed during the war in Afghanistan, including by US forces.

The United States, Russia, and Israel are not parties to the ICC. Recently, Trump welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Alaska, despite an ICC arrest warrant against him over the invasion of Ukraine.

Former President Joe Biden’s administration had also opposed ICC action against Israel, lifted earlier sanctions, and allowed limited cooperation with the court, including in gathering evidence related to Ukraine.

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