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| Four judges of the International Criminal Court: Solomi Balungi Bosa, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, Raine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansu and Betty Hohler. |
Published: 6 June 2025
Author: Kazi Fahsin
Novonicle
The administration of US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The move is part of an ongoing US campaign against the ICC, accusing the court of being politically motivated and biased against the US and its ally Israel.
The judges who were sanctioned are: Salome Balungi Bosa (Uganda), Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza (Peru), Rein Adélaïde Sophie Alapini Gansu (Benin) and Betty Hohler (Slovenia). The judges are accused of being involved in war crimes investigations against US forces in Afghanistan and against Israeli leaders in Gaza.
“The ICC is acting beyond its jurisdiction for political purposes, which threatens our national security and sovereignty,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. He added that the judges have been banned from entering the United States and their assets in the United States will be frozen.
The ICC has called the ban an attack on its independence. Human Rights Watch has condemned the move as an attack on international justice.
The ban comes as the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yav Gallant on charges of war crimes in Gaza. The United States and Israel do not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction and consider the warrants illegal.
