On February 6, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), which he accused of engaging in 'illegal and unfounded actions against America and our close ally Israel.'

The decree, announced by the White House, prohibits entry to the United States for ICC leaders, employees, and agents, as well as their immediate family members and anyone deemed to have assisted the ICC’s investigative work.

Additionally, the order mandates the freezing of all assets held in the U.S. by these individuals.

The specific names of the targeted individuals were not immediately disclosed.

However, it is noted that previous sanctions issued by the Trump administration in 2020 specifically targeted Fatou Bensouda, who was the ICC prosecutor at the time.

In the announcement, the White House referenced the ICC's investigations into alleged war crimes involving U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip, stating that the court's actions are considered unlawful by the U.S.

The Netherlands, the host country of the ICC, expressed its regrets over the sanctions.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp stated on social media platform X that 'the work of the Court is essential for the fight against impunity.'

The move comes in response to an ICC arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which was communicated to Trump earlier that week, and an arrest warrant for former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The ICC judges concluded that there are 'reasonable grounds' to suspect both men of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the recent Gaza conflict, which was triggered by an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israeli soil.

Netanyahu denounced the ICC's decision as anti-Semitic.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden described the warrants for the Israeli leaders as 'outrageous.'

Neither the United States nor Israel are members of the ICC, which is a permanent international tribunal responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

Established in 2002, the ICC, located in The Hague, currently counts 124 member states and has delivered only a handful of convictions since its inception.

Trump's decree aligns with his recent controversial statement regarding U.S. intentions to take control of the Gaza Strip for economic and infrastructure development, while suggesting that Palestinian residents would be relocated to unspecified neighboring countries.