U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order sanctioning the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling its recent actions “illegitimate and baseless.” The order, issued during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, imposes financial and visa restrictions on individuals involved in ICC investigations targeting U.S. citizens or allies, including Israel.
Trump’s move follows the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant against Netanyahu in November over alleged war crimes in Gaza, which Israel has denied. The ICC also issued a warrant for a Hamas commander, a decision the White House has condemned as creating a “shameful moral equivalency” between Israel and the militant group.
The executive order argues that the ICC’s actions set a “dangerous precedent” by exposing Americans to potential arrest and harassment. It further asserts that the U.S. and Israel, as democratic nations with military forces that “strictly adhere to the laws of war,” should not be subjected to ICC jurisdiction.
The U.S. has never been a member of the ICC and has consistently rejected its authority over American officials. Trump previously imposed sanctions on ICC officials in his first term to counter investigations into potential U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan, though these were later lifted by President Joe Biden’s administration.
Trump’s move also aligns with a broader push among U.S. lawmakers to challenge the ICC. Last month, the House of Representatives voted to impose sanctions on the court, but the bill stalled in the Senate.
Adding to the controversy, Trump has proposed a controversial plan for the U.S. to take control of Gaza after the war, resettle its Palestinian population elsewhere, and transform the region into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The plan, which he reaffirmed on his Truth Social platform, has drawn strong condemnation from Arab leaders and the United Nations.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has already instructed the military to prepare for the “voluntary departure” of Gaza residents via land, sea, and air. Netanyahu has praised Trump’s vision for Gaza, calling it “remarkable.”
The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu also included symbolic gestures, with Netanyahu presenting Trump with a golden pager referencing an Israeli military operation against Hezbollah last year.
Trump’s decision to sanction the ICC underscores his commitment to defending Israeli interests and signals a potential shift in U.S. policy should he return to office in the upcoming presidential election.
