On February 7, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump authorized sanctions targeting individuals involved in International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations into U.S. citizens and allies such as Israel.

The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans for those assisting in ICC probes, particularly in response to the court’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes in Gaza, Reuters reported.

The decision, announced during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, has drawn strong international reactions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated: “The ICC guarantees accountability for international crimes and gives a voice to victims worldwide. It must be able to freely pursue the fight against global impunity. Europe will always stand for justice and the respect of international law.”

However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán welcomed Trump’s decision, suggesting that Hungary should reconsider its ICC membership.

Trump’s executive order follows a failed Republican-led effort in the U.S. Senate to pass legislation imposing similar sanctions on the ICC.

Senate Democrats blocked a procedural vote on the ICC sanctions bill, expressing concerns over its broad language and unintended consequences for U.S. allies and businesses. While some Democrats supported holding the court accountable for its arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, they opposed the bill’s drafting. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the legislation as “poorly drafted,” while Sen. Jeanne Shaheen attempted but failed to negotiate amendments with Republicans. Despite initial support from a few Democrats, only Sen. John Fetterman ultimately voted in favor, while others, like Elissa Slotkin and Ruben Gallego, reversed their stance due to concerns about economic impacts.

During his first term, Trump sanctioned ICC officials in 2020 over investigations into alleged U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan, CNN reported.

In anticipation of financial restrictions, the ICC has taken precautionary measures, such as paying staff salaries in advance, according to Reuters. Judge Tomoko Akane, the court’s president, warned in December that sanctions could severely undermine the ICC’s operations. 

Russia has also previously targeted the court, banning its chief prosecutor and two judges after it issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin in 2023.