Court calls measures 'flagrant attack' on judicial independence, international order
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday strongly rejected new US sanctions targeting four of its judges and deputy prosecutors, calling the measures an assault on judicial independence and the rules-based international order.
"The International Criminal Court deplores the announcement of new designations for sanctions by the US administration against ICC Judges Kimberly Prost (Canada), Judge Nicolas Guillou (France), Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan (Fiji) and Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang (Senegal),” the court said in a statement.
The additional designations follow the earlier designation of four other judges and the ICC prosecutor.
"These sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution which operates under the mandate from 125 States Parties from all regions. They constitute also an affront against the Court’s States Parties, the rules-based international order and, above all, millions of innocent victims across the world," it added.
The ICC stressed that it will continue fulfilling its mandate in strict accordance with its legal framework as adopted by the states parties and "without regard to any restriction, pressure or threat."
It further urged governments to back the court’s mission, saying: "The Court calls upon States Parties and all those who share the values of humanity and the rule of law to provide firm and consistent support to the Court and its work carried out in the sole interest of victims of international crimes."
The US sanctioned four ICC officials on Wednesday, including a judge who authorized the arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Israel has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023, devastating the enclave, which faces famine. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
