THE HAGUE – The United States is reportedly considering a new and unprecedented escalation in its pressure campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC): imposing sanctions on the entire institution. This move, widely seen as retaliation for the court’s investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza, could paralyze the ICC’s operations, potentially affecting the payment of salaries to judges and staff.
Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that a decision on these “entity sanctions” could be announced imminently. The sanctions would go beyond previous measures that targeted individual ICC officials and could affect the court’s basic day-to-day functions, including its ability to access bank accounts and essential office software.
In anticipation of this development, the ICC has already taken proactive measures to mitigate the damage. Three sources stated that ICC staff received advance salary payments for the remainder of 2025. The court is also reportedly seeking alternative suppliers for banking services and software.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been a leading voice in the campaign against the ICC, calling the court a “national security threat” that has engaged in “lawfare” against the United States and its allies, including Israel. He has repeatedly stated that the ICC’s actions are an “illegitimate and baseless” overreach of its authority. The U.S. government maintains that the court has no jurisdiction over Israel or the United States, as neither nation is a member of the Rome Statute that established the ICC.
The potential sanctions have drawn strong condemnation from human rights organizations and UN experts, who have warned that such a move would undermine the independence of the tribunal and be a devastating blow to victims worldwide seeking justice for the gravest crimes. The ICC has also called on its 125 member states to stand firm against the U.S. pressure and protect the court’s impartiality.
