ICC anticipates ‘paralyzing’ Trump sanctions – Guardian
The incoming US president is anticipated to focus on the International Criminal Court in The Hague through an executive order this week. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is preparing for a potential “swift assault” from the new US administration, which could “paralyze” its operations and represent “an existential threat” to the institution based in The Hague, according to a report from The Guardian citing sources within the court.
This expected action comes in response to arrest warrants issued by the ICC in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, related to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
ICC officials anticipate that President Donald Trump might impose strict financial and travel sanctions targeting the court, its chief prosecutor, and judges as early as this week, The Guardian reports.
Earlier this month, the US House of Representatives voted to impose sanctions on the ICC, with Senate approval still pending. However, insiders within the court express concerns that Trump may circumvent Congress by issuing an executive order to enforce the restrictions.
The measures could significantly hinder the ICC’s access to banking and payment systems, IT infrastructure, and insurance providers, according to The Guardian.
Sources within the prosecutor’s office noted that the ICC is heavily dependent on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform for its operations, and losing this access could severely impact investigations. “We essentially store all of our evidence in the cloud,” one source explained.
One ICC official expressed grave concerns, stating, “The concern is the sanctions will be used to shut the court down, to destroy it rather than just tie its hands.”
During his previous term, Trump fostered a close relationship with Netanyahu and played a key role in mediating a recent ceasefire deal between Israel and the Gaza-based militant group Hamas.
In his first presidency, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a move that prior US administrations had avoided due to the city's disputed status and its significance to both Israelis and Palestinians.
In 2020, Trump had previously imposed sanctions on the ICC over its investigations into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, involving all parties, including the US. These measures were revoked in 2021 following President Joe Biden’s administration.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
This expected action comes in response to arrest warrants issued by the ICC in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, related to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
ICC officials anticipate that President Donald Trump might impose strict financial and travel sanctions targeting the court, its chief prosecutor, and judges as early as this week, The Guardian reports.
Earlier this month, the US House of Representatives voted to impose sanctions on the ICC, with Senate approval still pending. However, insiders within the court express concerns that Trump may circumvent Congress by issuing an executive order to enforce the restrictions.
The measures could significantly hinder the ICC’s access to banking and payment systems, IT infrastructure, and insurance providers, according to The Guardian.
Sources within the prosecutor’s office noted that the ICC is heavily dependent on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform for its operations, and losing this access could severely impact investigations. “We essentially store all of our evidence in the cloud,” one source explained.
One ICC official expressed grave concerns, stating, “The concern is the sanctions will be used to shut the court down, to destroy it rather than just tie its hands.”
During his previous term, Trump fostered a close relationship with Netanyahu and played a key role in mediating a recent ceasefire deal between Israel and the Gaza-based militant group Hamas.
In his first presidency, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a move that prior US administrations had avoided due to the city's disputed status and its significance to both Israelis and Palestinians.
In 2020, Trump had previously imposed sanctions on the ICC over its investigations into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, involving all parties, including the US. These measures were revoked in 2021 following President Joe Biden’s administration.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
