Donald Trump is reportedly considering imposing sanctions on British lawyer Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, following the court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The warrant has sparked significant international controversy, with the U.S. leading a backlash. Mike Waltz, Trump’s future national security adviser, criticized the ICC, promising a strong response to what he called the court’s anti-Semitic bias once Trump takes office.
Khan, who is overseeing the investigation into Israel’s actions in Gaza, could face sanctions, as could other ICC officials. While Germany and Hungary have signaled they will not detain Netanyahu, citing historical and political ties to Israel, Britain has expressed support for the ICC, though it has not clarified whether it would arrest Netanyahu if he visits.
In Israel, the government has strongly condemned the warrant, calling it “farcical.” Israel’s ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, accused the ICC of siding with Hamas, the terror group behind the October 7 massacre. She urged nations to reject the warrant.
In response to the arrest warrants, some European countries, like Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands, have pledged to detain Netanyahu, while others, including France, have affirmed the ICC’s legal standing but are undecided on enforcement.
Trump’s stance reflects broader Republican opposition to the ICC, a body the U.S. does not recognize. The sanctions could target Khan’s finances, potentially affecting his ability to access banking services in the UK. Additionally, Trump may withdraw U.S. resources from ICC-led investigations into Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
This move marks the first time the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for the leader of a Western-backed democracy, raising tensions within the international community.
