On Thursday, President Trump signed an order to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). He says the ICC unfairly targeted the U.S. and Israel.
Trump’s order says the ICC has no power over Israel or the U.S. He calls the court’s actions a “dangerous precedent.” His decision comes as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visits Washington. They met at the White House on Tuesday. The sanctions will block ICC officials’ property, freeze their assets, and stop them from entering the U.S. The ICC recently issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, which made tensions rise.
Critics say the sanctions weaken human rights protections. Charlie Hogle from the ACLU warns the order could stop investigations into global crimes. European countries, including the Netherlands, urged ICC members to find ways to fight back against U.S. sanctions. They are worried this move will hurt efforts for international justice.