US imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court:Move over Netanyahu arrest warrant; Rubio warns Washington could ‘Destroy’ Court if it continues its actions

The US government under President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of taking wrongful action against American and Israeli citizens. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Washington would seek to dismantle the court if it continued taking action against the US. The move comes amid long-standing tensions between Washington and the ICC over its investigations into alleged war crimes and the arrest warrant issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The US has repeatedly opposed the court’s actions against Israeli officials, arguing that the ICC has exceeded its authority and is unfairly targeting American and Israeli citizens. ICC says sanctions will not stop its work ICC Deputy Prosecutor Najat Shamim Khan condemned the US sanctions, calling them an attempt to undermine international law and the functioning of an independent judicial institution. Khan said the court would continue its investigations and legal proceedings despite the sanctions. The ICC has maintained that it operates independently and will not be deterred from carrying out its mandate by political pressure. American companies could also face restrictions The US sanctions could affect American companies that provide services to the ICC. Restrictions could disrupt the court’s access to banking, insurance and software services if US firms are barred from doing business with it. According to the report, the ICC had begun preparing for possible restrictions by exploring alternatives to Microsoft software and making alternative arrangements for banking and health insurance. Rubio urges US allies to put pressure on ICC Rubio said the US had given the ICC and its member countries an opportunity to address Washington’s concerns, but no resolution had been reached. He also called on US allies to take steps to rein in the court. Rubio said negotiations remained possible despite the sanctions. However, he warned that Washington could take further action if talks failed to resolve the dispute. What is the International Criminal Court? Established in 2002, the International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression under its jurisdiction. The court has 125 member countries. All European Union member states are parties to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC. The United States, however, is not a member. The sanctions were announced amid reports concerning former South African judge Navi Pillay and the Nobel Peace Prize. Pillay served as a judge in the ICC Appeals Chamber from 2003 to 2008. However, according to the report, the US had planned the sanctions before the Nobel Prize announcement. ​