ICC condemns Washington’s decision to sanction two of its judges

The International Criminal Court (ICC) condemned Washington’s decision to impose sanctions on two of its judges following their participation in an investigation accusing Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

In a statement issued today, Thursday, the court said, “We strongly reject the new U.S. sanctions on two members of the Court.”

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced, also on Thursday, the imposition of sanctions on two ICC judges, citing their “involvement in the unlawful targeting of Israel,” according to his statement.

Rubio stated in a U.S. State Department release that the judges, Gootcha Lordkipanidze from Georgia and Erdenebalsuren Damdin from Mongolia, had been placed on the sanctions list under Executive Order No. 14203 concerning sanctions on the International Criminal Court.

On November 21, 2024, following an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity, the ICC issued arrest warrants for war criminals Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minist