BBC reports that US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court.
Trump accuses the ICC of illegally prosecuting the US and its principal ally, Israel. The document states that financial and visa restrictions will be imposed on individuals who participate in investigations against Americans, their allies, or their family members.
Trump's move is a response to the failure of Senate Democrats to impose sanctions on the ICC to challenge Republicans' arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The executive order states: "The court abused its authority by issuing baseless arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and former defense minister."
This is the second time the ICC has faced US sanctions. In 2020, during the first Trump administration, sanctions were imposed on ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and Director of the Directorate Fakiso Benchochokho in connection with the investigation into alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan.
In January, the US House of Representatives approved a bill to impose sanctions on the ICC, but the Senate rejected it.
