US may impose sanctions this week on all ICC structures, Reuters reports
Photo: US may impose sanctions this week on all ICC structures (Getty Images)
The United States is considering imposing sanctions this week on all structures of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which could threaten its functioning, Reuters informs.
The agency notes that Washington has already imposed sanctions on individual ICC prosecutors and judges, but including the Court itself on the sanctions list would be a sharp escalation.
Such sanctions could affect the ICC’s daily operations — from paying staff salaries to accessing bank accounts and software on computers.
A Reuters source reported that ICC officials have already held emergency internal meetings to discuss the impact of potential US sanctions.
Three diplomatic sources told the agency that some ICC member states will try to resist US sanctions during the UN General Assembly session in New York this week.
However, according to them, all signs indicate that Washington is likely to intensify its attacks on the ICC.
US sanctions against the ICC
In August, the US imposed sanctions on four judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court.
The State Department explained that the decision was made because the ICC’s efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute a person under protection without the consent of that person’s country of citizenship are considered "hostile acts."
One judge was sanctioned for allowing the ICC to investigate "the activities of US personnel in Afghanistan."
Three others were sanctioned for their role in issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The sanctions include freezing and blocking all assets of these individuals in the US. US residents are also prohibited from conducting any transactions with the sanctioned individuals’ foreign property or providing them with any services.
