European governments, EU leaders and the U.N. rallied behind the International Criminal Court on Wednesday, condemning a new round of U.S. sanctions targeting senior court officials and warning that mounting pressure on the tribunal threatens the independence of international justice.
The latest U.S. measures target ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan and Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal, a senior trial lawyer in the Office of the Prosecutor.
The sanctions are part of a broader pressure campaign against the Hague-based court launched by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Tensions have escalated since the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced "serious concern" regarding the U.S. decision to impose sanctions on high-ranking ICC officials.
"The secretary-general expresses serious concern about this designation, as well as the ongoing designation of other International Criminal Court employees," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Wednesday.
