Description: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order which imposed sanctions over the International Criminal Court (ICC). The executive order was mainly signed over the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu for committed war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. Trump had staunchly supported Netanyahu and the Israeli was the first international meeting Trump took after assuming office. The sanctions mostly concerned individuals from the ICC, whose property within the US could be confiscated or they could be banned from entering the US. The US have always had a complicated relationship with the ICC ever since their voting against the signing of the Rome Statute in 1998.
Impact: The ICC is one of the most important judicial bodies internationally and although it has no executive power, through the accession agreements that many countries have signed, the ICC is the last judicial instance internationally. Trump’s imposition of sanctions on the court effectively unwinds efforts made by international investigative bodies in the persecution of international criminals. The sanctioning of the ICC came as a response towards Israel, since the ICC issued a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest however, it significantly corrupts the public image of the US in light of recent developments. The imposed sanctions only confirm the fact that when global interests are in question, legislature is futile without strong support and executive power.