US Sanctions ICC Judges Over Israel War Crimes Probe, Escalates Standoff

The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on two judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), intensifying its standoff with the Hague-based tribunal over investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza. The move marks a significant escalation in Washington’s opposition to the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israel and its senior leadership.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctions were directly linked to a recent ICC ruling that upheld arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. According to the US administration, the judges played a key role in allowing the investigation to proceed despite objections from Israel.

The two judges named in the sanctions are Gocha Lordkipanidze of Georgia and Erdenebalsuren Damdin of Mongolia. Both were part of the majority that rejected Israel’s attempt to block the court’s war crimes probe. Under the sanctions, the judges are barred from entering the United States and any assets or financial interests they may hold under US jurisdiction will be frozen.

Rubio accused the ICC of overstepping its authority and violating the sovereignty of the United States and Israel. “We will not tolerate abuses of power that wrongly subject US and Israeli individuals to the ICC’s jurisdiction,” he said, warning that Washington would continue to impose “significant and tangible consequences” in response to what it called judicial overreach.

With the latest action, the US has now sanctioned at least eight ICC judges and three prosecutors, including chief prosecutor Karim Khan, in connection with cases involving Israel. The move places Washington among a small group of countries openly retaliating against the court, alongside Russia, which has also taken punitive steps against ICC officials.

The ICC strongly condemned the US decision, calling the sanctions a direct attack on judicial independence. In a statement, the court said it “strongly rejects” the measures and warned that targeting judges for their rulings undermines the rule of law and international justice. The tribunal reiterated that it would continue its work without political interference.

Israel welcomed the US move. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar thanked Rubio, describing the sanctions as a moral stand against what Israel considers a politically motivated investigation. The ICC’s ruling allows investigations into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Israeli leaders have denied all allegations and rejected the court’s authority.

The latest sanctions further strain Washington’s already uneasy relationship with the ICC. While most Western democracies back the court, the United States, Israel and Russia are not members and do not recognise its jurisdiction. The development underscores growing global divisions over international justice, accountability, and the limits of multilateral institutions.