International Criminal Court: US sanctions have affected judges and we will not yield to any pressure news

The President of the International Criminal Court, Judge Tomoko Akane, said that the US sanctions imposed on the court’s senior officials and judges directly affected the personal lives of the targeted judges and officials.

At the opening of the meetings of the General Assembly of Member States in The Hague, Akani stressed that the judiciary “will not accept any pressure of any kind.”

Akani said, “Our independence and neutrality are uncompromising pillars. Our loyalty remains to the Rome Statute and international law.”

The administration of US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Attorney General Karim Khan, his two deputies, and six judges, in response to the court issuing international arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant on charges of committing war crimes in Gaza.

This comes as Karim Khan faces an internal investigation into allegations of sexual assault, which he denied committing, which led to him temporarily stopping performing his duties until the investigation is completed.

During the opening session, French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin affirmed France’s “firm commitment” to the court.

The French minister denounced what he described as “unacceptable coercive measures” targeting judges and lawyers, including a French judge.

The representative of Denmark, Elspeth Sondergaard Krohn, on behalf of the European Union, also stressed the bloc’s strong support for the court “in the face of the threats and sanctions targeting it.”

Last February, 79 countries announced their support for the International Criminal Court and warned of the danger of impunity and weakening the rule of international law, after the sanctions imposed by Washington on the court.

The 79 countries, which make up about two-thirds of the court’s members, said in a joint statement that these sanctions would severely undermine all situations currently under investigation, because the court may be forced to close its field offices.