Former prosecutor calls for EU statute blocking US sanctions on ICC members
A former prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has urged the European Union to implement a statute that would block US sanctions against ICC members. These sanctions, imposed after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials, have severely impacted the lives of judges and prosecutors. The call for action highlights the need for stronger support from the international community to protect judicial independence.
- ▪The US imposed sanctions on 11 ICC officials, including nine judges and the chief prosecutor, in response to ICC actions against Israeli cabinet members.
- ▪Fatou Bensouda, former ICC prosecutor, criticized the sanctions as coercive attempts to undermine judicial functions.
- ▪There is increasing frustration with the Dutch government's lack of action to protect ICC judges from these sanctions.
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There is growing anger that the Dutch government in particular – as host to the ICC in The Hague – has done little to protect ICC judges facing crippling sanctions or individual intimidation. Photograph: Peter Dejong/Pool AP/APView image in fullscreenThere is growing anger that the Dutch government in particular – as host to the ICC in The Hague – has done little to protect ICC judges facing crippling sanctions or individual intimidation. Photograph: Peter Dejong/Pool AP/APInternational criminal courtFormer prosecutor calls for EU statute blocking US sanctions on ICC membersUS imposed sanctions on nine judges and a prosecutor after ICC issued arrest warrants for members of Israeli cabinetPatrick Wintour Diplomatic editorSun 24 May 2026 00.00 EDTLast modified on Sun 24 May 2026 00.01…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at World news | The Guardian.
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