Washington, Feb 8, (dpa/GNA) – US President, Donald Trump, on Thursday signed an executive order, approving sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
The court has “abused its power by issuing baseless arrest warrants, targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant,” Trump’s order said.
The Republican, who met Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, accuses the court of “malign conduct.” Neither the US nor Israel recognizes the ICC.
International arrest warrants were issued last year against Netanyahu and Israel’s then-defence minister, Gallant, for alleged war crimes in the Gaza war.
Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden and a number of lawmakers from both parties, had also sharply criticized Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s actions against Israel.
Trump also accuses the court of claiming its jurisdiction “without a legitimate basis” and of opening preliminary investigations against US personnel.
After making it through the House of Representatives, a bill to sanction the court did not make it past the upper chamber at the end of January, due to Democratic opposition.
Trump’s order sanctions employees and supporters of the court, who are involved in investigations, indictments or arrest warrants against US personnel or allies, such as Israel.
According to the order, assets are to be frozen, and US persons and companies are prohibited from financial and economic transactions with them.
The US Treasury may grant waivers to companies or organizations under certain conditions. Persons targeted by the sanctions will be banned from entering the US.
This is not the first time that Trump has sanctioned the ICC.
During his first term in office, he imposed measures on ICC employees, as the court began to investigate US troops for potential war crimes in Afghanistan. Among Trump’s main targets was then ICC chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda.
The Biden administration lifted the sanctions shortly after taking office.
GNA