Netanyahu Applauds Trump’s Order to Impose Sanctions on ICC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the US Capitol, in Washington, US, February 6, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the US Capitol, in Washington, US, February 6, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura
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Netanyahu Applauds Trump’s Order to Impose Sanctions on ICC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the US Capitol, in Washington, US, February 6, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the US Capitol, in Washington, US, February 6, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura

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.



Iran Says 5 Inmates at Evin Prison Were Killed in Israel's Airstrike on Tehran

Evin Prison (File photo: Reuters)
Evin Prison (File photo: Reuters)
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Iran Says 5 Inmates at Evin Prison Were Killed in Israel's Airstrike on Tehran

Evin Prison (File photo: Reuters)
Evin Prison (File photo: Reuters)

An Israeli airstrike on Iran's capital last month killed five inmates at Evin prison and resulted in the escape of several others, Iranian media reported Saturday.

The semi-official ILNA news agency and other Iranian media quoted a spokesman for Iran’s judiciary that the five inmates killed in the June 23 strike had been convicted on financial offences. The spokesman didn't name the victims or give any further details.

The judiciary’s own news website, Mizanonline quoted spokesman Asghar Jahangir as saying only that “small number" of inmates were killed. He added that an “insignificant number of inmates” had also escaped and that authorities would soon bring them back into custody, AFP reported.

Jahangir said no one serving time at Evin prison for working with Israel's spy agency Mossad was injured in the attack.

Iranian authorities last month put the death toll from the airstrike at 71. But Iranian media later raised that number to 80 including staff, soldiers, inmates and visiting family members.

It's unclear why Israel targeted the prison. The Israeli Defense Ministry had said on the day of the airstrikes that 50 aircraft dropped 100 munitions on military targets “based on high-quality and accurate intelligence from the Intelligence Branch.”

The New York-based Center for Human Rights had criticized Israel for striking the prison - seen as a symbol of repression of any opposition - saying it violated the principle of distinction between civilian and military targets.

The 12-day air war left more than 1,060 dead in Iran and 28 dead in Israel.