The United States has imposed new sanctions on two judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Gocha Lordkipanidze (Georgia) and Erdenebalsuren Damdin (Mongolia), over the court's decision to reject Israel's request to halt investigations into war crimes in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the judges were involved in "politicized" efforts to investigate Israeli citizens without Israel's consent, calling the actions a threat to international order. The sanctions are part of a line of Donald Trump's administration against the ICC, which has previously included prosecutors and organizations cooperating with the court.
The ICC condemned the sanctions as a blatant attack on the independence of international justice, stating that it would continue to implement its mandate. The Netherlands, where the court is headquartered, expressed support for the institution.
The measures also relate to the arrest warrants issued in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The US and Israel are not members of the ICC and oppose its jurisdiction, while the court emphasizes that it has the right to investigate crimes committed in the territories of member states, including the Palestinian territories.
According to data, the war in Gaza has caused over 171 thousand Palestinian casualties, while the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 killed 1,139 Israelis. In parallel, the US also announced new sanctions on ships and companies linked to Iran.
