US Imposes Sanctions on ICC Judges Amidst Controversial Arrest Warrants
Sanctions target four judges over ICC proceedings related to Israel and US military actions.
On June 5, 2025, the United States government announced sanctions against four judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC), in a significant escalation of tensions between Washington and the court, which is based in The Hague.
The sanctions include travel bans to the United States and the freezing of any properties or interests the judges may hold within the country's jurisdiction.
This action is unusual as such sanctions are typically directed at government officials of adversarial nations rather than judicial figures.
The four judges affected by the sanctions are Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza from Peru, Reine Alapini-Gansou from Benin, Beti Hohler from Slovenia, and Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda.
The sanctions come in response to ICC actions that the U.S. government deems illegitimate, particularly regarding an arrest warrant issued in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The court found substantial grounds for criminal responsibility against both Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes related to actions taken during military operations in Gaza following an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
In addition to the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC judges involved also have ties to the court’s inquiry into allegations of war crimes committed by U.S. forces during the conflict in Afghanistan.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the ICC's actions and emphasized the U.S. commitment to protecting its sovereignty and that of its allies.
The imposition of sanctions occurs against the backdrop of the U.S. and Israel's non-participation in the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
Conversely, a large number of the United States' Western allies, alongside nations across Latin America and Africa, are signatories to the treaty and are hence obligated to act on arrest warrants issued by the court when suspects enter their territories.
The sanctions include travel bans to the United States and the freezing of any properties or interests the judges may hold within the country's jurisdiction.
This action is unusual as such sanctions are typically directed at government officials of adversarial nations rather than judicial figures.
The four judges affected by the sanctions are Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza from Peru, Reine Alapini-Gansou from Benin, Beti Hohler from Slovenia, and Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda.
The sanctions come in response to ICC actions that the U.S. government deems illegitimate, particularly regarding an arrest warrant issued in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The court found substantial grounds for criminal responsibility against both Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes related to actions taken during military operations in Gaza following an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
In addition to the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC judges involved also have ties to the court’s inquiry into allegations of war crimes committed by U.S. forces during the conflict in Afghanistan.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the ICC's actions and emphasized the U.S. commitment to protecting its sovereignty and that of its allies.
The imposition of sanctions occurs against the backdrop of the U.S. and Israel's non-participation in the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
Conversely, a large number of the United States' Western allies, alongside nations across Latin America and Africa, are signatories to the treaty and are hence obligated to act on arrest warrants issued by the court when suspects enter their territories.