US threatens new sanctions on ICC over Trump probe, Netanyahu warrant

The Trump administration is threatening to impose broad sanctions on the International Criminal Court if it refuses US demands to revoke arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, drop probes against President Trump and US troops.

By World Israel News Staff

The Trump administration is demanding the International Criminal Court reverse course on three key issues, including dropping arrest warrants for two Israeli leaders, and has warned that it will impose powerful new sanctions on the court if it refuses to comply.

In a report published early Thursday morning, Reuters cited an administration official who said the White House is seeking assurances from the ICC that it will not attempt to prosecute President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, or other senior US officials after Trump leaves office in 2029.

“There is growing concern … that in 2029 the ICC will turn its attention to the president, to the vice president, to the secretary of war and others, and pursue prosecutions against them,” the official said. “This is unacceptable and we will not allow it to happen.”

The US is also demanding the ICC close its March 2020 probe of American troops over their actions in Afghanistan, and to revoke arrest warrants issued last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

According to the report, the US has communicated its demands both to the ICC and to American allies that are parties to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC in 2002.

Earlier this year, the US sanctioned nine senior ICC officials, including prosecutors and judges, but fell short of imposing sweeping sanctions on the entire ICC.

Should the court refuse the administration’s demands, however, the official said, the US could impose personal sanctions on additional court officials and blacklist the ICC itself. That would bar American companies and companies doing business with the US from any involvement with the court and discourage other businesses and officials from cooperation with the ICC.