President Donald Trump’s administration has prepared sanctions against the entire International Criminal Court, escalating Washington’s campaign against the tribunal over its pursuit of Israeli leaders.
Two sources familiar with the matter said the administration planned to announce the measures soon. However, the exact timing remained unclear. Officials could finalise the decision this week during the United Nations General Assembly meeting.
Washington wants the ICC to drop arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. US officials also want the court to abandon a past investigation into American troops in Afghanistan.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the planned measures.
Sanctions could disrupt banking and investigations
The proposed restrictions would target the court itself, expanding beyond existing sanctions against individual ICC judges and prosecutors. Washington has long considered this broader approach but has so far held off from implementing it.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a campaign in July to isolate the tribunal. He urged other countries to withdraw from the court.
Sanctions against the entire institution could restrict its access to dollars and the global financial system. Measures targeting organisations that cooperate with the ICC could further undermine its work.
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Under such restrictions, US citizens and companies could not provide funds, goods or services to the court without Treasury authorisation. They would require a licence from the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, known as OFAC.
The consequences could extend beyond American businesses. Banks often apply US sanctions more broadly than necessary because they rely on access to the American financial system.
The ICC’s registrar and president have warned that institution-wide sanctions could disrupt essential services and daily operations. These include purchasing IT services and insurance, hiring investigators and processing routine financial transactions.
The restrictions could also complicate salary payments to dozens of American employees working for the court.
Netanyahu and Gallant warrants drive confrontation
Trump’s opposition to the ICC dates back to his first presidency. Plans to penalise court officials resurfaced in November 2024, when he won re-election and judges issued the Netanyahu warrant.
The court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict. The allegations include using starvation as a method of warfare. Israel denies committing war crimes.
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In July 2025, ICC judges rejected Israel’s request to withdraw the warrants and suspend the wider investigation into the Palestinian territories.
The international community established the Hague-based ICC in 2002 to prosecute genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It serves as a court of last resort when national authorities cannot or will not genuinely prosecute.
Neither the United States nor Israel has joined the ICC. Both reject its jurisdiction in these cases.
The court’s recognition of Palestine as a member underpins its jurisdiction over alleged crimes in Gaza and the West Bank.
