### US Sanctions on ICC Judges Spark EU Calls to Block Measures

The United States has levied new sanctions against four judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move criticized by the ICC as an attempt to undercut its independence. This latest action has increased pressure on the European Union (EU) to counter these sanctions through its existing legal mechanisms.

On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against four ICC judges. The targeted individuals include two judges involved in proceedings that led to the issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pertaining to alleged crimes in Gaza. Israel has denied these allegations. The other two judges had authorized probes into possible war crimes committed by US forces in Afghanistan.

These sanctions come amid challenging times for the ICC. Earlier this year, sanctions were also imposed on the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan. Additionally, Judge Beti Hohler from Slovenia is among those blacklisted, leading Slovenia and Belgium to call for the EU to activate its "blocking statute" to shield EU firms from US punitive measures.

The ICC responded to the sanctions by emphasizing that its mission provides justice and hope to victims of severe atrocities. The court warned that targeting those striving for accountability only emboldens perpetrators of such crimes. The sanctions bar US businesses and citizens from providing funds, goods, or services to the blacklisted judges, and any assets they hold in the US are frozen.

The EU has condemned the US move but has yet to decide on activating the "blocking statute." This legislation was originally created to shield European businesses from US sanctions aimed at Cuba and later expanded to cover sanctions on Iran. EU spokesperson Olof Gill mentioned that the European Commission is closely monitoring the situation before making any decisions.

The ICC, established in 2002, relies on its member states for enforcement, as it lacks a police force of its own. This reliance highlights the court's vulnerability and the necessity for political will among member states to uphold justice. Recent events, such as Italy’s failure to arrest a Libyan police chief and Hungary’s withdrawal from the court, reveal a complex and uncertain future for the ICC. Some EU countries have also indicated that they would not arrest Netanyahu should he visit, underscoring the fractured support for the court within the EU.

The situation illustrates an "existential crisis" for the ICC, with political motivations often overriding judicial processes. France, for example, has argued that Netanyahu may have immunity because Israel is not an ICC member, while Germany’s chancellor suggested in February that Netanyahu could still travel to Berlin.

As tensions rise, all eyes are on the EU to see whether it will take concrete action to defend the ICC and uphold international justice.