ICC is illegitimate;Trump says as he imposes sanctions

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of conducting "unfounded and illegitimate" investigations targeting both the United States and Israel.

The order enforces financial and visa restrictions on individuals involved in ICC probes against American citizens or allies. Trump signed the directive while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington for diplomatic discussions.

In November, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza—allegations that Israel has firmly denied. The court also issued a warrant for a Hamas commander.

A White House statement released earlier on Thursday criticized the ICC for equating Israel with Hamas by issuing warrants against figures from both sides simultaneously.

Trump’s executive order argues that the ICC’s actions establish a “dangerous precedent” that could put Americans at risk of “harassment, abuse, and arrest.”

The order further asserts that both Israel and the U.S. operate under democratic principles and maintain militaries that adhere to international law.

U.S. and ICC Relations

The U.S. has never been a member of the ICC and has consistently rejected the court’s authority over American personnel. The White House accused the ICC of unfairly targeting Israel while overlooking actions by Iran and other groups hostile to Israel.

During his first term, Trump took similar steps against the ICC, including sanctioning officials involved in investigations of potential U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan. These measures were later revoked by President Joe Biden.

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to sanction the ICC, but it failed to advance in the Senate.

The ICC, established in 2002 following conflicts in Yugoslavia and the Rwandan genocide, is an international tribunal responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of serious human rights violations. While over 120 countries have ratified the Rome Statute that governs the court, the U.S. and Israel remain non-signatories.

The court intervenes in cases where national governments are unable or unwilling to conduct their own investigations into alleged crimes.

Controversy Over Gaza Proposal

Trump’s executive order follows his announcement alongside Netanyahu of a controversial proposal to place Gaza under U.S. administration, relocate its Palestinian population, and redevelop the area into a “Middle Eastern Riviera.”

After backlash from Arab leaders and the United Nations, Trump reaffirmed the idea in a post on Truth Social, stating that Israel would hand control of Gaza to the U.S. after the conflict.

He reiterated that the plan would involve the displacement of Palestinian residents but clarified that no American troops would be deployed. However, his remarks left uncertainty over whether displaced Gazans would be permitted to return.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later stated that any population relocation would be temporary, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested Gazans would leave for an “interim” period during reconstruction.

Netanyahu’s Visit and Symbolic Gift

As part of his Washington visit, Netanyahu met with U.S. lawmakers from both parties. During the trip, he presented Trump with a symbolic gift—a golden pager—referencing a military operation last year in which Israeli forces used booby-trapped communication devices against Hezbollah targets.

The strike, which Israel claimed was aimed exclusively at Hezbollah militants, resulted in numerous casualties. Lebanese officials, however, reported that civilians were among those affected.