THE HAGUE, Netherlands — In a defiant address at its annual assembly, the International Criminal Court (ICC) declared it would resist mounting external pressures from global powers. Court President Judge Tomoko Akane asserted the institution’s independence before delegations from 125 member states, emphasizing, “We never accept any kind of pressure.”
The declaration comes amid significant challenges: nine ICC officials, including six judges and Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, face sanctions from the Trump administration. These measures were imposed in response to investigations targeting U.S. and Israeli officials. Simultaneously, Moscow has issued warrants against court staff following the ICC’s arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning Ukraine conflict allegations.
These sanctions have substantially impacted the court’s operational capacity across multiple investigations, straining resources as demand for its services grows. The current administration under President Joe Biden has not reversed these sanctions, maintaining the stance established in 2020 when Trump targeted Prosecutor Khan over probes involving Israel.
In a major development, the court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant regarding alleged war crimes during Israel’s military operations in Gaza following Hamas’ October 2023 attacks.
The ICC, established in 2002 as the permanent global court for prosecuting severe international crimes including genocide and war crimes, operates when national jurisdictions fail to act. Notably, the United States, Israel, Russia, and China remain non-member states. The court lacks its own enforcement capabilities and depends on member cooperation to execute warrants.
Adding to these external pressures, Prosecutor Khan has temporarily stepped down pending an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denies. Assembly of States Parties President Päivi Kaukoranta acknowledged frustrations with the prolonged investigation timeline, though no completion date has been set.
The weeklong meeting will address critical operational matters, including budget approvals, against this backdrop of international pressure and internal challenges.