Trump slaps sanctions on ICC over Israel probes

Victims of human rights abuses around the world turn to the International Criminal Court when they have nowhere else to go, and President Trump's executive order will make it harder for them to find justice,

said Charlie Hogle, staff attorney with American Civil Liberties Union's National Security Project

The ICC condemns the issuance by the US of an Executive Order seeking to impose sanctions on its officials and harm its independent and impartial judicial work,

the court said in a statement

These sanctions represent a blatant disregard for the rule of law as the bedrock of modern international relations,

Musar said in a statement

You can disagree with the court and the way it operates, but this is beyond the pale,

Sarah Yager, Washington director of Human Rights Watch, said in an interview prior to the announcement

Lindsey Grahamsenator

This is a rogue court. This is a kangaroo court,

Graham said in an interview in December

The legal theory they're using against Israel has no limits and we're next,

he added

The U.S. is sending a dangerous message: that ICC judges will be punished simply for pursuing justice against those suspected of grave crimes,

she said

We reaffirm our continued and unwavering support for the independence, impartiality and integrity of the ICC,

a group of almost 80 countries said in a joint statement

Dick Schoofdutch Prime Minister

We don't know the exact impact yet, but it could make the court's work very hard and possibly impossible in certain areas,

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof told reporters

We will do all we can to make sure the court can fulfill its tasks,

he said ... adding he

Birgitta Ohlssonswedish politician

He might feel, from the US perspective, that if they can do this to Israel, they could do it to us in future,

Klamberg said

The ICC is a court of last resort, stepping in when national authorities are unable or unwilling to conduct genuine proceedings,

justice director Liz Evenson said in a statement, urging the ICC's 125 signatory states to stand behind it

The ICC has recently turned into a biased political tool and has discredited the entire international judicial system,

Szijjárto said

They jeopardize an institution that is supposed to ensure that the dictators of this world cannot simply persecute people and start wars, and that is very important,

Scholz commented

Moreover, sanctions could jeopardize the confidentiality of sensitive information and the safety of those involved — including victims, witnesses, and court officials, many of whom are our nationals,

they warned

Entry into our nation would be detrimental to the interests of the United States,

he argued without providing evidence

The Court serves as a vital pillar of the international justice system by ensuring accountability for the most serious international crimes, and justice for victims," and measures sanctioning it "increase the risk of impunity for the most serious crimes and threaten to erode the international rule of law, which is crucial for promoting global order and security,

the statement said

This finding is based on the role of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant in impeding humanitarian aid in violation of international humanitarian law and their failure to facilitate relief by all means at its disposal,

the ICC said

We firmly reject any attempt to influence the independence and the impartiality of the Court or to politicise our judicial function,

said Akane

Such threats and coercive measures constitute serious attacks against the Court's States Parties, the rule of law based international order and millions of victims,

she added