US Again Imposes Sanctions on the International Criminal Court, Involving US-Israel Investigation Causing Controversy

The U.S. government announced on Wednesday (August 20) a new round of sanctions against the International Criminal Court (CPI), naming four judges and prosecutors, including a French judge, citing that the institution is "politicized." This move was welcomed by Israel but strongly criticized by France and the International Criminal Court, which condemned it as a "blatant attack."

According to AFP, the targets of the U.S. sanctions include Canadian judge Kimberly Prost, French judge Nicolas Guillou, Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan from Fiji, and Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang from Senegal. Among them, French judge Guillou is presiding over the case involving an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio stated in a statement that these judges and prosecutors were sanctioned because they "directly participated in CPI's efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute U.S. or Israeli citizens without the consent of the relevant countries."

This sanction is a further action following measures taken by the U.S. in early June against four other CPI judges. In February this year, the U.S. had previously sanctioned CPI Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan for initiating legal proceedings against Israeli leaders.

Rubio stated that the U.S. has "clearly and firmly expressed its opposition to the politicization of the CPI" and emphasized that the institution based in The Hague poses a "threat to U.S. national security" and is "used as a legal weapon against the U.S. and its important ally Israel."

The U.S. particularly opposes investigations into U.S. soldiers suspected of committing war crimes in Afghanistan, as well as the arrest warrants issued by the CPI against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who are suspected of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza war.

CPI: "Blatant Attack"

The International Criminal Court later condemned the U.S. sanctions as a "blatant attack on an independent and impartial judicial institution" in a statement.

The sanctions include prohibiting the individuals concerned from entering the United States, freezing their assets in the U.S., and banning any financial transactions.

Canadian judge Prost was accused of being sanctioned for participating in the investigation of U.S. military actions in Afghanistan, while French judge Guillou was named for presiding over the case involving Netanyahu and Gallant. Guillou is a senior jurist who worked for the U.S. Department of Justice for many years during Obama's administration, promoting Franco-American judicial cooperation.

The two deputy prosecutors were accused of supporting the CPI's "illegal actions" against Israel, including the arrest warrants.

Last November, the CPI had already issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office stated in a statement on Wednesday that the U.S. sanctions were a "decisive action," helping to "counter the smear and lies campaign against the Israeli state (and its army), defending the truth and justice."

France: "Deeply Shocked"

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday expressing "deep shock." A spokesperson emphasized that France "supports the judge subjected to sanctions" and believes the U.S. measures "violate the principle of judicial independence."

Neither the U.S. nor Israel is a member of the International Criminal Court and refuses to recognize the court's judicial jurisdiction over its citizens.

During the presidency of Donald Trump, the CPI and then Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda became targets of U.S. sanctions. However, these measures were revoked shortly after Joe Biden took office.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841016459574471/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.