US Prepares Sanctions on the International Criminal Court After Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu

US President Donald Trump’s administration is preparing to impose sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US officials and documents reviewed by the newspaper.

The proposed measures would ban most transactions with the ICC after a transition period of six to seven months. According to the WSJ, the restrictions could significantly hamper the court’s operations, including its use of the US dollar and access to parts of the international financial system.

No final decision has yet been taken and no official announcement has been made. Several US officials told the WSJ the measures could be finalised during the UN General Assembly week or in the days after it.

The clash between Washington and the ICC deepened after the court issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Netanyahu and Gallant have denied the accusations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sharply criticised the ICC, arguing that its actions against officials of countries that are not members of the court threaten American sovereignty. The United States and Israel are not parties to the Rome Statute.