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MindanaoToday.com | Trump Imposes Sanctions on ICC Officials, Freezes Assets and Enforces Travel Ban
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on top officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing its “illegitimate and baseless rulings” against Israel.
The sanctions include freezing all assets of ICC officials and banning them from entering the United States. The order also restricts individuals who assisted in ICC investigations, targeting not just the court’s staff but also allied nations and American government personnel involved.
Trump’s move comes in response to the ICC’s arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The warrants stem from Israel’s military operations against Hamas following the October 7, 2023, attacks, which resulted in thousands of Jewish casualties.
In a statement, Trump condemned the ICC’s actions, calling them an attack on Israel’s sovereignty and right to self-defense. He accused the court of political bias and overreach, asserting that the U.S. would not recognize or cooperate with its rulings.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions, with Israel and its allies backing Trump’s stance, while human rights groups and international legal experts warn that the move undermines global accountability efforts.
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