Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, has applauded US President Donald Trump’s move to impose sanctions on the ICC.
Netanyahu extended his thanks to the US president in a post on X on Thursday.
“Thank you, President Trump, for your bold ICC Executive Order,” he said, “It will defend America and Israel from the anti-American and antisemetic corrupt court that has no jurisdiction or basis to engage in lawfare against us.”
Neither the US nor Israel is a member of or recognizes the court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes over his military response in Gaza after the Hamas attack against Israel in October 2023. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children, have been killed during the Israeli military's response.
The order Trump signed accuses the ICC of engaging in “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel" and of abusing its power by issuing “baseless arrest warrants” against Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant.
“The ICC has no jurisdiction over the United States or Israel,” the order states, adding that the court had set a “dangerous precedent” with its actions against both countries.
Trump’s action came as Netanyahu was visiting Washington. He and Trump held talks Tuesday at the White House, and Netanyahu spent some of Thursday meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
The order says the US will impose “tangible and significant consequences” on those responsible for the ICC's “transgressions.” Actions may include blocking property and assets and not allowing ICC officials, employees and relatives to enter the United States.
