In a decisive move, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel.”
The order follows the ICC’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, issued in May 2024 over alleged war crimes during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
As part of the sanctions, financial restrictions and travel bans will be enforced against ICC officials, particularly those involved in the decision.
Trump’s administration has vowed to impose “tangible & significant consequences on those responsible for the ICC’s transgressions.”
The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, prosecutes individuals accused of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.
However, its actions have often been met with resistance from global powers.
The arrest warrant for Netanyahu was issued under the leadership of ICC official Karim Khan, a U.K. national.
This means that if Netanyahu were to travel to countries like France or the U.K., he could face arrest.
Meanwhile, the ICC has also issued warrants against Hamas leaders, some of whom have since been killed.
Netanyahu, who was in Washington, D.C., at the time of Trump’s announcement, has held discussions with the president and top U.S. officials throughout the week, becoming the first foreign leader to visit the newly inaugurated administration.
In addition to the ICC sanctions, Trump has also signed an executive order to establish a task force within the Department of Justice aimed at addressing “anti-Christian bias.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi has been appointed as chair, with a team of high-ranking officials working to evaluate executive branch policies from Joe Biden’s administration.
Their goal is to identify actions that may have been discriminatory against Christians or unlawful.
The initiative will also engage faith-based organizations and develop strategies to safeguard religious liberties.
“The task force will collaborate with faith-based organizations and will develop strategies to protect religious liberties,” the order states.
With the administration taking bold steps to address these concerns, the establishment of this task force signals a stronger commitment to resolving longstanding issues.
Reports on its findings will be submitted to the president, with the first due in 120 days.
Meanwhile, the newly imposed ICC sanctions are expected to spark further debate over international jurisdiction and the U.S. stance on global justice efforts.
