THE International Criminal Court called on its member states today to stand up against US sanctions, saying that President Donald Trump’s action sought to “harm its independent and impartial judicial work.”

Hitting back at Mr Trump, The Hague-based court promised to continue providing “justice and hope” around the world.

“The ICC condemns the issuance by the US of an executive order seeking to impose sanctions on its officials and harm its independent and impartial judicial work,” the court said in a statement.

“The court stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world.

“We call on our 125 states parties, civil society and all nations of the world to stand united for justice and fundamental human rights.”

The White House issued the executive order on Thursday in response to what it claimed were “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel.”

The US and Israel are not members of the court and do not recognise its authority.

President Trump’s order was a response to the ICC issuing an arrest warrant last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Around 62,000 Palestinians, including children, have been killed in the Israeli invasion of Gaza which followed Hamas’s cross-border attack of October 7 2023, which killed 1,139 Israelis.

European Council president Antonio Costa, who leads summits of the European Union’s 27 heads of government, said: “Sanctioning the ICC threatens the court’s independence and undermines the international criminal justice system as a whole.”

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen insisted that the court “must be able to freely pursue the fight against global impunity.” 

German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer said. “We support the ICC and will continue to do so.”

Human rights groups also criticised the decision.

“US sanctions against ICC officials would be a gift to those around the globe responsible for mass atrocities,” Human Rights Watch international justice director Liz Evenson said in a statement. “Sanctions are for human rights violators, not those working to hold rights abusers to account.”

The Netherlands, which hosts the court, also condemned Mr Trump’s action. 

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp said: “The Netherlands regrets the executive order imposing sanctions on the ICC. The court’s work is essential in the fight against impunity.”