Brussels:The European Union has expressed regret over the United States' decision to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an institution, urging Washington to reverse the measure.
According to Palestine news and Information Agency, the EU's statement was issued by foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on behalf of the bloc, emphasizing support for the rules-based international order and respect for international law. The EU highlighted the ICC as a fundamental pillar of this system.
The statement underscored the ICC's crucial role in ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes and clarified that it does not target sovereign states. The EU deemed any targeting or threatening of the court, its officials, staff, civil society representatives, and cooperating service providers as unacceptable.
The European Union stressed the importance of the ICC's independence, free from pressure or external interference, and reaffirmed its full support for the court. The bloc expressed readiness to take all necessary measures to ensure the ICC can continue its mandate effectively and protect those working with it.
The US's decision, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, followed the awarding of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to former ICC judge Navi Pillay. The ICC had previously issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Army Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.