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The new US president is expected to target the International Criminal Court with an executive order this week
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is preparing for a “swift assault” from the new US administration that could “paralyze” its work and pose “an existential threat” to The Hague-based institution, The Guardian newspaper has reported, citing sources within the organization.
The anticipated crackdown would be a response to the arrest warrants the court issued in November against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
ICC officials are bracing for President Donald Trump to impose strict financial and travel sanctions targeting the court, its chief prosecutor, and judges as early as this week, according to The Guardian.
Earlier this month, the US House of Representatives voted to impose sanctions on the ICC, with Senate approval pending. However, sources within the court fear that Trump may bypass Congress and issue an executive order enabling the restrictions.
The measures could affect the ICC’s access to banking and payment systems, IT infrastructure, and insurance providers, The Guardian noted.
Several sources in the prosecutor’s office stated that the ICC heavily relies on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform for its operations, warning that losing access would cripple investigations. “We essentially store all of our evidence in the cloud,” one source said.
“The concern is the sanctions will be used to shut the court down, to destroy it rather than just tie its hands,” one ICC official told The Guardian.
Trump maintained a close relationship with Netanyahu during his previous term in office. Trump’s team also reportedly played a significant role in mediating the recent ceasefire deal between Israel and the Gaza-based militant group Hamas.
During his first presidency, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, something previous US administrations had avoided doing due to the city’s disputed status and its importance to both Israelis and Palestinians.
In 2020, Trump targeted the ICC with sanctions over the court’s investigations into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan carried out by all sides, including the US. The measures were lifted in 2021 under President Joe Biden.
