What are the consequences of US sanctions on the entire International Criminal Court, can it pay salaries? Key points

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to be the latest in line of POTUS Donald Trump’s ire for its investigation of Israeli war crimes, with reports saying that the United States is set to sanction the ICC. The US will now add ICC to its notorious sanctions list, with many of its judges and prosecutors already on its list.

Six anonymous sources said a decision on these “entity sanctions” is expected soon. ICC officials have already held emergency internal meetings to understand how such sanctions could affect the court’s operations. Member-state diplomats have also met to discuss the potential impact of US sanctions on the ICC, as reported by Reuters.

ICC sanctions impact

An official with the United States government, on the condition of anonymity, claimed that the sanctions against ICC are in the works and would be formalised soon. The State Department spokesman of the US Government said that the ICC was overreaching its jurisdiction by meddling in the affairs of US and Israeli personnel—which the Trump administration considers unacceptable.


The spokesperson added that the ICC could avoid consequences by making important structural changes, otherwise the US will continue to act to protect its interests. Sanctions on the ICC could affect day-to-day operations, like paying staff, accessing bank accounts, and using office software, as mentioned in the report by Reuters.

ICC salaries and operations

To prepare, ICC staff have already received salaries in advance for the rest of 2025. This is not the first time the court has done this as a precaution. The ICC is also looking for alternative suppliers for banking services and software in case sanctions block access. The court, based in The Hague, has indicted Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and members of Hamas for alleged crimes during the Gaza war.

The US has previously sanctioned ICC officials for their roles in these cases and in a separate investigation of alleged crimes in Afghanistan involving US troops. Some of the ICC’s 125 member countries may try to push back against additional US sanctions during the UN General Assembly in New York this week. However, sources in The Hague and New York say the US is likely to increase pressure on the ICC, moving from targeting individuals to sanctioning the entire court, as per the report by Reuters.

A senior diplomat said that the US has “exhausted” individual sanctions, and it is now a matter of when, not if, the next step will happen. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the ICC a “national security threat” and said it has been used as a tool for “lawfare” against the US and Israel.

The ICC was founded in 2002 to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed by citizens of member states or on member territories. Israel and the US are not members of the ICC, while Palestine is. The court says this gives it jurisdiction over crimes on Palestinian territory, but Israel and the US reject this claim.

In February, the White House sanctioned ICC lead prosecutor Karim Khan, who requested warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. Khan is now on leave amid sexual misconduct allegations which he denies, as stated by Reuters report.

FAQs

Q1. Can the US sanction the entire International Criminal Court (ICC)?
Yes, the US is considering sanctions on the whole ICC in response to investigations of Israeli war crimes.

Q2. Will ICC staff still get paid if the US sanctions the court?
Yes, the ICC has already paid staff salaries in advance and is preparing alternative banking options.