In a historic move, President Donald Trump’s administration has imposed sanctions on four judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing their involvement in cases targeting U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Israeli officials over alleged war crimes.
The Trump administration on Thursday imposed sanctions on four judges serving at the International Criminal Court (ICC), escalating tensions over the tribunal’s investigations into alleged war crimes committed by U.S. troops in Afghanistan and its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions, naming Judges Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin, and Beti Hohler of Slovenia.
“As ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel,” Rubio said in a statement. “The ICC is politicized and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge, and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies.”
The ICC strongly condemned the move, calling it an assault on the court’s independence. “This is a deliberate attempt to undermine an international judicial institution that stands for justice and provides hope to victims of unimaginable atrocities,” the court said in response.
Judges Bossa and Carranza have served on the ICC bench since 2018. In 2020, they were part of an appeals chamber that authorized a formal investigation into possible war crimes by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Judges Alapini Gansou and Hohler played a key role in issuing the ICC’s controversial arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu, former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas commander Ibrahim Al-Masri over actions during the recent Gaza conflict.
This latest round of sanctions builds on earlier confrontations between the Trump administration and the ICC. In 2020, the administration imposed sanctions on then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and one of her aides, also over investigations related to Afghanistan.
The sanctions will restrict the judges’ access to financial systems tied to the United States, making routine banking transactions difficult. However, the U.S. Treasury Department issued general licenses allowing wind-down transactions until July 8, provided payments are directed to blocked, interest-bearing accounts in the U.S.
Critics say the move risks further isolating the U.S. from the international legal community, while supporters argue it protects American sovereignty and allies from what they see as politically motivated prosecutions.
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Iran has launched missiles and drones targeting U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait, according to Iranian state media and a U.S. official, in retaliation for recent U.S. strikes on Iran.
France has recorded 1,000 excess deaths during the severe heatwave that swept across Europe, according to the country's public health agency, which warned the final toll is likely to rise.
Lebanon says Israeli air strikes and ground operations have damaged or destroyed historic landmarks across the country's south, raising fears that parts of its cultural heritage have been lost forever.
The World Cup knockout stage is finally ready to begin after 72 group matches trimmed the expanded 48-team field down to 32.
France said on Saturday it was considering taking reciprocal measures after Burkina Faso broke off diplomatic relations.
Japan remained on high alert Saturday as Typhoon Mekkhala approached the eastern coast after Typhoon Higos weakened into a tropical depression. Authorities warned of continued heavy rain, flooding, and landslides, according to media reports.
A tanker reported being struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, Britain's maritime security agency said, after the United States and Iran each launched strikes in the worst escalation since they signed their interim peace deal.
Germany and Poland are bracing for sweltering conditions as a deadly heatwave that has gripped Western Europe moves east, with temperatures expected to approach 40°C over the weekend.
Iran had a stoppage-time goal disallowed as they drew 1-1 with Egypt in their final Group G match at Seattle Stadium on Friday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the country is going through a “difficult period”, but has learned much from it, according to state news agency TASS.
Pope Leo has expressed solidarity with people in Venezuela after twin earthquakes struck the country earlier this week, causing widespread damage and leaving communities in urgent need of assistance.
Eleven people were killed when a small plane carrying skydivers crashed near Nancy in eastern France on Sunday, local officials said.
France has recorded 1,000 excess deaths during the severe heatwave that swept across Europe, according to the country's public health agency, which warned the final toll is likely to rise.
Lionel Messi made World Cup history as Argentina finished top of Group J, while Austria and Algeria both reached the Round of 32 after a dramatic draw that ended Iran's hopes of progressing.
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