The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move described by Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a response to unjust actions against the U.S. and Israel.

Among those sanctioned are Balungi Bossa and Ibáñez Carranza, both ICC judges since 2018, who were involved in reopening investigations into alleged war crimes by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan during Donald Trump's first term.

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu over alleged war crimes related to the Gaza conflict, which intensified following a Hamas attack in October 2023, a situation neither the U.S. nor Israel recognizes.

Tensions between Washington and The Hague have been on the rise since November 2024, particularly due to the ICC's actions against Israeli officials.

These latest sanctions follow similar measures taken in February 2025 against Karim Khan, the ICC's chief prosecutor, who initiated a case against Israel concerning its actions in Gaza.

This action represents an escalation in Trump's ongoing conflict with the ICC, which he has previously criticized as politicized and illegitimate.

Major powers like the U.S., China, Russia, India, and Israel have not ratified the Rome Statute and do not comply with ICC warrants.

On January 21, 2025, Trump signed a decree restoring the power to impose economic sanctions on the ICC, just a day after taking office.

In February 2025, Karim Khan was sanctioned, which barred him from conducting business with Americans due to his investigation efforts, and he later stepped aside amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

Another judge, Beti Hohler from Slovenia, elected in 2023, has faced criticism from Israel regarding her previous role in the prosecutor's office.

The ICC, established in 2002 to prosecute serious crimes like genocide and war crimes, is not recognized by the U.S. and Israel, who oppose its jurisdiction over their officials.

Human Rights Watch has condemned the sanctions as an attack on the rule of law, arguing they deter accountability for human rights violations in Israel and Palestine.