"Amnesty International": US sanctions aim to eliminate the International Criminal Court

Amnesty International stated that US sanctions on the International Criminal Court aim to eliminate it, and called on states to protect it. This follows US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's announcement of sanctions in protest of arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.

Amnesty International announced that US sanctions imposed on the International Criminal Court aim to "eliminate" it, and called on states to take concrete steps to protect it. The organization stated in a press release that the sanctions seek to isolate the court and undermine the possibility of prosecuting perpetrators of serious crimes under international law. The statement quoted the organization's Director of Global Research, Advocacy and Policy, Erika Guevara-Rosas, saying that states should resist the implementation of sanctions, provide political and financial support to the court, and ensure its continued access to essential services and systems. She affirmed that the future of the court and international justice depends on the willingness of governments and peoples to defend it. The announcement came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Washington's intention to impose sanctions on the court, following the awarding of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to former judge Navi Pillay. Rubio said that US President Donald Trump will not allow the court to prosecute American citizens. The step comes amid US objections to the arrest warrants issued by the court in November 2024 against Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, on charges of committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip. The new sanctions are scheduled to take effect after six months.