Bensouda Urges EU to Trigger Blocking Statute Against US Sanctions on 11 ICC Officials
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 24
Bensouda Urges EU to Trigger Blocking Statute Against US Sanctions on 11 ICC Officials
4 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 24
Fatou Bensouda called in The Hague for the EU to activate its blocking statute, saying US sanctions on ICC personnel amount to judicial intimidation and require “structural resistance” rather than statements of support.
The February 2025 US measures hit 11 ICC officials—including nine judges and the chief prosecutor—after the court issued 2024 arrest warrants for Israeli cabinet members, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Travel bans and asset freezes have already locked some judges out of the European financial system, Bensouda said, disrupting normal family life and showing how sanctions can isolate court officials beyond the courtroom.
She warned the pressure could widen to the ICC itself, with banks, insurers, technology providers and outside experts potentially pulling back if sanctions become normalized tools against lawful court work.
The appeal also sharpens pressure on the Netherlands, which hosts the ICC and has pledged to protect indispensable court personnel, but faces criticism from progressive Dutch lawmakers for doing too little in practice.
With judicial officials now being targeted, is the era of independent international justice coming to an end?
As US sanctions impact ICC judges, can the EU's 'blocking statute' offer more than symbolic support?
US Sanctions on ICC Officials Escalate Crisis: EU Urged to Defend International Justice with Blocking Statute
Overview
The report highlights how renewed US sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials and those cooperating with its investigations have created a major crisis for international justice. After the ICC took actions concerning Israeli officials, the US hardened its stance, reactivating Trump-era executive orders and pressuring the ICC to halt investigations into alleged war crimes by both Israel and the US. These sanctions targeted not only ICC staff but also Palestinian human rights groups providing evidence to the court, leading to halted payments and operational disruptions. The situation has sparked urgent calls for the European Union to intervene and protect the ICC’s independence.