Global human rights organization Amnesty International has issued a strong condemnation and sharp protest against the latest sanctions imposed by the U.S. administration on senior officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Erika Guevara-Rosas, a senior official at the organization, characterized the U.S. move as a “despicable attack on the international system of justice.”
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Guevara-Rosas noted that these sanctions are part of an “escalating campaign” by the United States aimed at intimidating the ICC and undermining international efforts to ensure accountability for atrocities committed worldwide.
Addressing the recent sanctions levied against ICC President Tomoko Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, Erika Guevara-Rosas clarified that this matter is by no means a “question of national sovereignty.” Rather, its primary objective is to punish prosecutors and judges investigating grave international crimes and to shield powerful entities and allies from accountability under international law.
She cautioned the international community that sovereign states must safeguard the independence and integrity of neutral institutions like the ICC, ensuring the court can carry out its vital mandate without fear of political pressure or retaliatory measures.
This development follows the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza—a move strongly opposed by Israel and its ally, the United States.
