US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday urged international allies to rally behind sanctions imposed by the United States against the International Criminal Court (ICC). This move comes in response to what the US deems wrongful actions by the ICC, including recent arrest warrants that have drawn ire from American officials.

Rubio emphasized the US commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and that of Israel and other allies. "The United States will take whatever actions we deem necessary to protect our sovereignty, that of Israel, and any other US ally from illegitimate actions by the ICC," he declared.

The sanctions target four ICC judges, all women, who were involved in issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The US response is notable, as such measures are typically reserved for adversarial policymakers rather than judicial figures. Under these sanctions, the judges, Beti Hohler of Slovenia and Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin, will be barred from entering the United States, and their properties and interests within the country will be blocked.

The ICC's actions have provoked strong reactions, particularly regarding the arrest warrant for Netanyahu, which was issued last November. Alapini-Gansou is also a notable figure in the case involving former president Rodrigo Duterte, prompting his legal team to seek her disqualification.

In his statement, Rubio called on nations still aligned with the ICC to resist what he described as a "disgraceful attack" on the United States and its allies. "I call on the countries that still support the ICC, many of whose freedom was purchased at the price of great American sacrifices, to fight this disgraceful attack on our nation and Israel," he added.

The United States, Israel, and the Philippines are not parties to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC. As of March 17, 2019, the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC, which investigates genocide and war crimes. It is the second country to withdraw after Burundi in 2017. Duterte announced the withdrawal following the ICC's preliminary examination into alleged crimes against humanity, including possible criminal responsibility for Duterte himself, related to thousands of killings in his war on drugs initiated in July 2016.

Nearly all Western allies of the United States, along with Japan and South Korea, as well as the vast majority of Latin American countries and much of Africa, are parties to the statute. In theory, these countries must arrest suspects when they enter their territory.

Meanwhile, the ICC strongly condemned the sanctions imposed by the United States on four of its judges, labeling the move as an attempt to undermine the court's independence. These sanctions follow an earlier designation affecting ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC.

In a statement, the ICC emphasizes states parties worldwide. "These measures distract from our mission to deliver justice and hope to millions of victims who have suffered unimaginable atrocities," the court said.

The international tribunal reiterated its commitment to the principles outlined in the Rome Statute, which ensures fairness and protects the rights of both victims and suspects alike.

The court expressed concern that such sanctions do not facilitate resolution for civilians caught in conflict but instead embolden those who believe they can act without accountability. "Targeting those working for justice ultimately harms innocent victims caught in the situations we address," the ICC noted.

In response to these actions, the ICC has vowed to continue its work unimpeded, maintaining its dedication to bringing justice for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression. "We stand firmly behind our personnel and will not be deterred in our mission," the court said.

Source: The Manila Times.