Trump sanctions the ICC

[Politruk]

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. What Trump should have done is have Netanyahu arrested the moment he stepped off the airplane. What he did do is impose sanctions on the ICC.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel, a close U.S. ally.

Neither the U.S. nor Israel is a member of or recognizes the court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes over his military response in Gaza after the Hamas attack against Israel in October 2023. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children, have been killed during the Israeli military’s response.

The order Trump signed Thursday accuses the ICC of engaging in “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel” and of abusing its power by issuing “baseless arrest warrants” against Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant.

“The ICC has no jurisdiction over the United States or Israel,” the order states, adding that the court had set a “dangerous precedent” with its actions against both countries.

 

[Politruk]

In response:

NEW YORK/AMSTERDAM, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Dozens of countries expressed their "unwavering support" for the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump authorized potentially far-reaching economic and travel sanctions against the court's staff.
"We reaffirm our continued and unwavering support for the independence, impartiality and integrity of the ICC," a group of almost 80 countries said in a joint statement.
"The court serves as a vital pillar of the international justice system by ensuring accountability for the most serious international crimes, and justice for victims."
The 79 signatories came from all parts of the world, but make up only about two-thirds of the 125 member states of the permanent court for the prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and crimes of aggression.
Among the countries who agreed to the statement were France, Germany and Britain. Among those absent were Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Italy.

So Trump has driven one more wedge between the U.S. and the international community, including our allies.