In a statement on Thursday, the court expressed its strong criticism of the US administration's decision to impose sanctions on Judges Gocha Lordkipanidze and Erdinbalsurin Damdin of the Appeals Chamber, describing it as "a blatant attack on the impartiality of the court."
These sanctions were considered “a blatant attack on the independence of the impartial judicial institution which carries out its duties based on the mandate granted to it by the States Parties,” stressing that “such measures targeting judges and public prosecutors elected by the States Parties undermine the rule of law.”
She added in her statement to the court that "when those working in the judiciary are threatened for enforcing the law, the international legal system itself is endangered."
She noted that 11 officials at the International Criminal Court, including judges and prosecutors, are now subject to US sanctions.
On August 20, the US administration announced sanctions against a number of judges and members of the prosecution office at the International Criminal Court, accusing them of taking "anti-Israel positions"
Earlier on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on his “X” account that President Donald Trump’s administration had imposed sanctions on two judges of the International Criminal Court for allegedly being “directly involved in politicized and illegal acts against Israel.”
Rubio said: "The United States has been clear, we will continue to respond with significant and tangible consequences to protect against the ICC's exploitation of the law, abuse of power, and blatant disregard for the sovereignty of the United States and Israel."
In November 2024, the court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, on charges of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza.
The Israeli war of extermination on Gaza left more than 70,000 dead and 171,000 wounded Palestinians, most of them children and women, and caused destruction to 90 percent of the civilian infrastructure, while the United Nations estimates the cost of reconstruction at about $70 billion.
