Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over 'illegitimate targeting of Israel and US'

President Donald Trump has signed an enforcement bid to enforce sanctions connected the International Criminal Court pursuing The Hague’s investigations into Israel, a adjacent American ally, successful its warfare with Hamas.

Neither the US nor Israel is simply a subordinate of oregon recognises the court, which has issued an apprehension warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged warfare crimes for his subject effect successful Gaza aft the October 7 attacks successful 2023.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs connected February 4, 47,540 Palestinians were killed successful the Israeli subject effect since the October 7 attacks and a further 111,618 radical were near injured.

Israel reports much than 1,200 fatalities and 5,400 injured for the aforesaid clip period.

The bid signed by Trump accuses the ICC of engaging successful "illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our adjacent state Israel" and of abusing its powerfulness by issuing "baseless apprehension warrants" against Netanyahu and his erstwhile defence minister, Yoav Gallant.

"The ICC has nary jurisdiction implicit the United States oregon Israel," the bid states, adding that the tribunal had acceptable a "dangerous precedent" with its actions against some countries.

Trump's enactment comes during a sojourn by Netanyahu to Washington.

He and Trump held talks connected Tuesday astatine the White House, and Netanyahu spent immoderate of Thursday gathering with politicians connected Capitol Hill.

The bid says the US volition enforce "tangible and important consequences" connected those liable for the ICC's "transgressions."

Actions whitethorn see blocking spot and assets and not allowing ICC officials, employees and relatives to participate the United States.

Human rights activists said sanctioning tribunal officials would person a chilling effect and tally antagonistic to US interests successful different struggle zones wherever the tribunal is investigating.

American Civil Liberties Union's National Security Project lawyer Charlie Hogle said of the bid signed by the US President: "Victims of quality rights abuses astir the satellite crook to the International Criminal Court erstwhile they person obscurity other to go, and President Trump's enforcement bid volition marque it harder for them to find justice.

"The bid besides raises superior First Amendment concerns due to the fact that it puts radical successful the United States astatine hazard of harsh penalties for helping the tribunal place and analyse atrocities committed anywhere, by anyone."

Mr Hogle added the bid "is an onslaught connected some accountability and escaped speech."

Washington manager of Human Rights Watch Sarah Yager added: "You tin disagree with the tribunal and the mode it operates, but this is beyond the pale."

Like Israel, the US is not among the court's 124 members and has agelong harboured suspicions that a "Global Court" of unelected judges could arbitrarily prosecute US officials.