JERUSALEM – President Donald Trump‘s govt series sanctioning the Hague-based World Felony Court docket (ICC) will cancel a slippery slope of U.S. army and govt officers going through prosecution from a nebulous judicial paperwork within the Netherlands, argue critics of the worldwide felony frame.
Richard Goldberg, a former Trump respectable who served on his first Nationwide Safety Council, advised Fox Information Virtual, “This is a critical first step in defending American soldiers and officials from further lawfare illegitimately waged by radical anti-Americans at what’s become an international kangaroo court. Israel may be in the news today, but tomorrow it will be the Americans who are still being wrongfully investigated by the court for supposed war crimes in Afghanistan.”
Goldberg, a senior aider on the Bedrock for Protection of Democracies, added, “These ICC officials have crossed a line, they have entered the battlefield against the United States and Israel by perverting international law and using it as a tool of warfare. The president has preserved an escalation ladder here, too. These sanctions only apply to officials and service providers, not to the court itself. We could absolutely go the next step and shut down the court if this lawfare isn’t terminated.”
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A normal view of the World Felony Court docket development in The Hague, Netherlands, on April 30, 2024. (Selman Aksunger/Anadolu by means of Getty Photographs)
The ICC fired again in a remark and stated it “condemns the issuance by the U.S. of an Executive Order seeking to impose sanctions on its officials and harm its independent and impartial judicial work. The Court stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world, in all Situations before it. We call on our 125 States Parties, civil society and all nations of the world to stand united for justice and fundamental human rights.”
Trump signed the executive order punishing the ICC on Thursday based on its Would possibly 2024 arrest warrant for Israeli High Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s former Protection Minister Yoav Gallant.
Netanyahu praised the series in a remark. “Thank you, President Trump for your bold ICC Executive Order. It will defend America and Israel from the anti-American and antisemetic corrupt court that has no jurisdiction or basis to engage in lawfare against us. The ICC waged a ruthless campaign against Israel as a trial run for action against America. President Trump’s Executive Order protects the sovereignty of both countries and its brave soldiers.”
The ICC is reportedly nonetheless investigating U.S. electorate for battle crimes dedicated in Afghanistan. (AP)
Hungarian Overseas Minister Peter Szijjarto stated on Friday that Trump’s sanctions at the ICC are “absolutely understandable.” He added the ICC has change into “a biased political tool” and that the central Eu nation was once comparing its cooperation with the ICC.
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President Donald Trump, proper, and Israeli High Minister Benjamin Netanyahu solution questions right through a joint press convention within the East Room on the White Space in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 4, 2025. ( REUTERS/Leah Millis)
Dozens of nations expressed their “unwavering support” for the ICC on Friday, a age then Trump approved doubtlessly far-reaching financial and move sanctions towards the courtroom’s personnel.
“We reaffirm our continued and unwavering support for the independence, impartiality and integrity of the ICC,” a gaggle of virtually 80 international locations stated in a joint remark. “The court serves as a vital pillar of the international justice system by ensuring accountability for the most serious international crimes, and justice for victims.”
The signatories got here from all portions of the arena however form up most effective about two-thirds of the 125 member states of the permanent court for the prosecution of battle crimes, crimes towards humanity, genocide and crimes of aggression.
A number of the international locations who yes to the remark have been France, Germany and Britain. Amongst the ones absent have been Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Italy.
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Goldberg stated that “The president wasn’t going to wait around on Schumer’s games to act. The minute Senate Democrats blocked the bill it was a guarantee you would see an executive order follow. But if Schumer now says he supports the order, Senate Republicans should move quickly to codify it and force Schumer back to a vote.”
Senate Minority Chief Sen. Chuck Schumer,D-NY., torpedoed a GOP-led invoice to sanction the ICC in January.
Reuters and Fox Information’ Diana Stancy contributed to this newsletter
