Trump imposes sanctions on ICC over Netanyahu arrest warrant, probes on US troops
US President Donald Trump arrives at the National Prayer Breakfast in the US Capitol yesterday. — AFP pic
Friday, 07 Feb 2025 8:54 AM MYT
WASHINGTON, Feb 7 — US President Donald Trump signed an executive order yesterday slapping sanctions on the International Criminal Court for “baseless” investigations targeting America and its close ally Israel, the White House said.
Trump’s order said the court in The Hague had “abused its power” by issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who held talks with the US president on Tuesday.
The order also said the tribunal had engaged in “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel,” referring to ICC probes into alleged war crimes by US service members in Afghanistan and Israeli troops in Gaza.
The US president ordered asset freezes and travel bans against ICC officials, employees and their family members, along with anyone deemed to have helped the court’s investigations.
The sanctions are a show of support after Netanyahu’s visit to the White House, during which Trump unveiled a plan for the US to “take over” Gaza and move Palestinians to other Middle Eastern countries.
Neither the United States nor Israel are members of the court.
There was no immediate reaction from the ICC.
The ICC issued arrest warrants on November 21 for Netanyahu, his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas’ military chief Mohammed Deif—whom Israel says is dead.
The warrants, approved after an application by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan in May, are for “crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024.”
During his first term, Trump imposed financial sanctions and a visa ban on the ICC’s then-prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, and other senior officials and staff in 2020.
Describing it as a “kangaroo court,” his then-administration made the move after Gambian-born Bensouda launched an investigation into allegations of war crimes against US soldiers in Afghanistan.
While his order at the time did not name Israel, Trump administration officials said they were also angered by Bensouda’s opening of a probe into the situation in the Palestinian territories in 2019.
President Joe Biden lifted the sanctions soon after taking office in 2021.
Prosecutor Khan later effectively dropped the United States from the Afghan investigation and focused on the Taliban instead.
Biden strongly condemned the “outrageous” warrant against Netanyahu in November.
The US House passed a bill last month to sanction the ICC, but Senate Democrats blocked it last week, saying the bill could backfire on US allies and firms.
But Democrats have also expressed anger at the sanctions on Netanyahu. — AFP
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kt comments:
Clown: How dare the ICC touch my Lord & Master?
https://t.me/geopolitics_live/43047
ReplyDelete♦️Trump disbands task force targeting Russian assets
♦️Israeli Air Force conduct airstrikes on southern Lebanon
♦️USAID fueled BLM activity with taxpayer money
♦️Yoav Gallant admits the use of 'Hannibal directive'
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https://t.me/geopolitics_live/43049
Trump orders UN World Food Program to abort US-funded projects
The grants in question pertain to aid for impoverished countries, including Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Haiti, and Mali, reports Reuters.
Some of the aborted projects fall under the auspices of the Food for Peace Title II program, which spends about $2 billion annually. UN representatives fear that the suspension will result in poor countries under-receiving 507,000 metric tons of food, which is $340 million worth.
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Ever wonder how did the UN came about, like the real story behind it, the motive of it? Who were the people behind it, the real one?
Seems like a systematic dismantling of the old guard is being prepped and lined up for the killshot... who and what will replaced it?
Putin will have his seat on the high council to reshape the world, Xi too, Modi, MBS...Bolsanaro...PMX? Probably his wet dream. The Brits? If they survive the tarred and feathering as an entity...
I detest Donald Fuck, but I have to agree that the ICC is a den of America-haters and Israel-haters , and there is ZERO chance for either America or Israel to get an unbiased hearing before the ICC.
ReplyDeleteWakakakaka…
DeleteWith self proclaimed impunity, why should America or Israel to get an unbiased hearing before the ICC?
They r mferingly designing their own fate!