Key facts
- The U.S. sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye.
- Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen criticized the U.S. sanctions, calling them a violation of the ICC's mandate.
- The Netherlands fully supports the International Criminal Court.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the sanctions protect American citizens from a 'sham' institution.
- The ICC warned that punishing its officials undermines the rule of law and the international legal order.
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen strongly criticized the Trump administration's decision to sanction two senior officials at the International Criminal Court (ICC), including its president, Tomoko Akane, and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. The sanctions were imposed over ICC probes into alleged Israeli crimes in Gaza.
Berendsen stated on X that the Netherlands disapproves of the sanctions and emphasized that international courts must be free to carry out their mandates. He affirmed the Netherlands' full support for the ICC and extended an invitation to Akane for discussions on continued support.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the sanctions, accusing the ICC of threatening American sovereignty and acting as a 'sham' institution. He asserted that the U.S. would not allow Americans to be tried for 'pretend offenses.' These sanctions are part of a broader U.S. campaign against the ICC, which has already targeted at least 11 officials.
The ICC, established in 2002, prosecutes genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Its investigation into senior Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been a significant point of contention with the U.S. The court issued a statement asserting that measures against its judges, prosecutors, and staff undermine the rule of law and endanger the international legal order.
Netanyahu, who faces an arrest warrant from the ICC for alleged war crimes, praised Washington's action, calling the ICC a 'kangaroo court' and commending Rubio for ensuring its officials would face consequences.