WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump has issued an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the tribunal of unfairly targeting the United States and its ally Israel.
The order, signed while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting Washington, places financial and visa restrictions on individuals assisting ICC investigations into American or allied citizens.
The move follows the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and a Hamas commander in connection with alleged war crimes in Gaza—charges Israel has vehemently denied.
The White House condemned the court’s decision, calling it a “shameful moral equivalency” between Hamas and Israel.
Trump’s executive order claims the ICC’s actions “set a dangerous precedent” that could lead to the harassment or arrest of Americans.
“This malign conduct… threatens to infringe upon the sovereignty of the United States and undermines the critical national security and foreign policy work of the United States government and our allies, including Israel,” the order stated.
BREAKING: Trump will sign an executive order today to sanction the ICC over investigations into the US and allies like Israel, including financial and visa sanctions on those involved and their family members, says the White House. 🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/uwsfoz
Neither the U.S. nor Israel is a member of the ICC, and Washington has consistently rejected the court’s jurisdiction over American officials.
The White House also accused the ICC of undermining Israel’s right to self-defense while ignoring threats from Iran and anti-Israel militant groups.
This is not the first time Trump has acted against the ICC.
During his first term, he sanctioned ICC officials investigating U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan, though those sanctions were later lifted by President Joe Biden.
More recently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to sanction the court, though the measure stalled in the Senate.
The ICC, a court of last resort, steps in when national governments are unable or unwilling to prosecute war crimes.
It has the backing of over 120 nations, including many European countries, but has long faced criticism from the U.S. and Israel.
Controversial Gaza Proposal
Trump’s executive action comes amid his controversial proposal to have the U.S. take control of Gaza after the Israel-Hamas conflict, resettle Palestinians elsewhere, and transform the enclave into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
The plan, announced during a joint press conference with Netanyahu, drew sharp criticism from Arab leaders and the United Nations.
Undeterred, Trump reiterated the idea on his Truth Social platform, claiming that Gaza would be handed over to the U.S. by Israel once fighting ends.
He suggested that the Palestinian population would be temporarily displaced, though his comments left unclear whether they would be allowed to return.
The Biden administration and U.S. lawmakers from both parties have distanced themselves from the proposal, while Netanyahu has praised it as a “remarkable vision” for the region.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has since instructed the military to prepare for the “voluntary departure” of Gaza’s residents by land, sea, and air.
As Netanyahu continued his Washington visit, he met with Republican and Democratic lawmakers and presented Trump with a golden pager—an apparent nod to Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah last year.
Those operations resulted in numerous casualties, including civilians, according to Lebanese officials.
Trump’s latest executive order reinforces his administration’s stance against international legal oversight while aligning closely with Netanyahu’s hardline policies.
