Kathmandu — The International Criminal Court (ICC), the world’s only permanent tribunal for prosecuting war crimes and crimes against humanity, is facing unprecedented disruption following sweeping sanctions imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The sanctions came in response to the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing alleged war crimes in Gaza. These developments reveal the extent to which the U.S. and its allies will go to shield powerful actors from international accountability.
U.S.-Israel Axis Undermines International Justice
In February 2025, the Trump administration denounced the ICC’s actions as “baseless” and enacted punitive measures under Executive Order 14203. These included freezing the bank accounts of ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, revoking his access to digital services, and threatening ICC personnel with arrest if they entered the United States. These aggressive moves, supported by the same imperial powers long hostile to international justice, have significantly disrupted the court’s operations.
The ICC, established under the Rome Statute, is the only global institution with the mandate to prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. However, the U.S. and Israel—neither of which are parties to the Rome Statute—have repeatedly rejected the court’s authority and retaliated against efforts to hold their leaders accountable.
A Long History of U.S. Hostility Toward Global Justice
Trump’s sanctions are not an isolated case but rather the continuation of a broader U.S. policy aimed at undermining international legal institutions. In 2002, President George W. Bush signed the American Service-Members’ Protection Act—derisively called the “Hague Invasion Act”—which authorizes the use of military force to liberate any U.S. or allied personnel held by the ICC. This law exemplifies Washington’s refusal to submit to any form of international accountability, even as it provides military and diplomatic cover to regimes accused of grave human rights violations.
Crisis at the ICC Amid Misconduct Investigation
Adding to the crisis, Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan recently took a leave of absence amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, brought by a Malaysian lawyer. The U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services has launched an independent inquiry, though Khan denies any wrongdoing. In the interim, Deputy Prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan and Mame Mandiaye Niang have assumed his responsibilities. Though not directly linked to the court’s prosecutions, the timing of these allegations and the court’s political targeting raise concerns about the erosion of the ICC’s credibility.
Global South Faces Unequal Justice
While the U.S. and Israel evade prosecution, leaders from the Global South—particularly Africa and Latin America—have long borne the brunt of ICC investigations. This double standard has fueled criticism that the court disproportionately targets weaker states, while shielding Western-backed actors from scrutiny. The ICC’s move to investigate Israeli officials marks a rare deviation from this pattern, prompting a fierce backlash and renewed efforts to neutralize the court’s authority.
A Call for a Truly Independent System of Justice
These events underscore the urgent need for a truly independent system of international justice—one not beholden to the whims of global powers. For nations like Nepal that oppose imperial domination, this moment offers a clear warning: as long as institutions like the ICC remain vulnerable to political coercion, justice for the oppressed will be elusive. The path to real accountability must be forged through global solidarity, grassroots mobilization, and the rejection of imperialist interference.
So long as the U.S. and its allies can intimidate international bodies into silence, victims of Israeli apartheid, U.S. drone warfare, and proxy conflicts around the world will be denied redress. The struggle for justice must now expand beyond compromised courtrooms and into the streets, where people-powered movements can challenge impunity and demand truth and accountability.
Online Peoples News stands firmly with the Palestinian people and all victims of U.S.-Israeli imperialism. No sanctions or smear campaigns can suppress the global call for justice.