UN condemns US sanctions against ICC judges who investigate crimes in Gaza

Published at: 07/06/2025 10:08 AM

The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed his rejection of the sanctions imposed by the United States against judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) who investigate alleged war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza.

Türk called these measures “profoundly corrosive” to the administration of justice and good governance, urging their immediate reconsideration. The sanctions, announced by the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, follow the issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant by the ICC.

The Court also oversees a case involving war crimes in Afghanistan, involving both U.S. and Afghan forces. In view of this, Türk expressed deep concern about retaliation against judges who carry out their legal functions, pointing out that such actions undermine the rule of law and the fundamental values that the United States has historically defended, Prensa Latina reports.

In a statement released on Thursday, the ICC denounced the sanctions as an attempt to compromise its independence, affecting its mandate in more than 125 countries. In addition, the Regional Office for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories condemned the murder of journalists in Gaza, considering it a direct threat to press freedom.

Mazo News Team