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In a move that escalates ongoing tensions, the United States has announced sanctions on four judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for actions deemed unjust by U.S. authorities against American and Israeli interests. The announcement was made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who declared that the measures target Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza (Peru), Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou (Benin), and Beti Hohler (Slovenia).

The sanctions come in response to the ICC's issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who are accused of leading an offensive in Gaza that resulted in famine and war crimes. Additionally, the sanctioned judges are linked to authorizing investigations into abuses by U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.

Speaking on the matter, Rubio criticized the ICC, calling it politicized and asserting it oversteps its boundaries by claiming the authority to investigate and prosecute U.S. nationals and allies. "This dangerous assertion and abuse of power infringes upon the sovereignty and national security of the United States and our allies, including Israel," he stated.

This development adds further strain to already frayed relations between the Trump administration and international bodies, which President Donald Trump has dismissed as biased. The U.S. had previously sanctioned the ICC's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, resulting in a loss of email access and frozen bank accounts for Khan, as reported by the Associated Press.

The ICC responded to the sanctions with a statement expressing disappointment. It criticized the measures as attempts to undermine the court's independence, which operates under the mandate of 125 states. "These sanctions are not only directed at designated individuals but also target all those who support the court, threatening the rule of law, peace, security, and the prevention of grave crimes," the ICC stated.

Danya Chaikel from the International Federation for Human Rights condemned the U.S. actions, noting that such sanctions were traditionally reserved for disrupting terrorist activities and trafficking networks. She described the application of these sanctions against ICC officials as a dangerous misuse of power that discourages accountability for mass atrocities.

James Goldston, executive director of the Open Society's justice initiative and a former ICC prosecutor, voiced strong opposition to the sanctions, emphasizing the ICC's role as a last resort for victims of serious crimes seeking justice. He warned that these sanctions jeopardize victims' hope and embolden perpetrators, marking a significant setback for America's commitment to the rule of law and international justice.