Officials from the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Monday that they are implementing confidential countermeasures to safeguard the court against sanctions imposed by the United States. This announcement was made at the annual meeting of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) in The Hague, which includes representatives from 125 countries that have ratified the ICC’s founding Rome Statute.
The meeting takes place amid significant challenges facing the ICC, particularly due to its ongoing investigation into Israeli officials for alleged war crimes in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. Since February, the Trump administration has imposed financial and visa sanctions on the ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as well as additional sanctions on two deputy prosecutors and six judges. These measures have seriously disrupted the daily lives of the ICC officials, restricting their travel and financial transactions globally, especially within Europe.
During the plenary session, ICC President Tomoko Akane urged the member states to recognize the challenges posed by these sanctions, which she described as deeply unsettling, affecting the personal and professional lives of those involved with the court. She also mentioned that Russia had issued arrest warrants against several ICC officials in response to the court’s inquiry into alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
Despite the mounting pressure, both Akane and deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang expressed resilience, emphasizing their ongoing commitment to justice. “This pressure has strengthened rather than weakened our conviction in the noble mission of this court,” Niang stated. She underscored that the prosecutor’s office continues its work despite the sanctions and highlighted the court’s efforts to achieve technological independence, including exploring alternatives to its current cloud services provider, Microsoft.
There are increasing calls for the European Union to activate its Blocking Statute, which would provide legal protections to European businesses and citizens against these foreign sanctions. Human rights advocates are urging the EU to take decisive action to safeguard the ICC and its officials.
The ICC, established in 2002, stands as the world’s only permanent international court capable of prosecuting high-ranking officials for major international crimes. It is currently engaged in investigations across a range of critical situations including those in Palestine, Ukraine, and several others. Amid these challenges, the ICC remains focused on its mission, striving to endure and maintain its commitment to justice on a global scale.