UN human rights chief calls on US to withdraw sanctions on ICC judges

The UN's human rights chief has demanded the US government withdraw sanctions it imposed on four judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Volker Türk said in a statement that "attacks against judges" run directly counter to "respect for the rule of law and the equal protection of the law – values for which the US has long stood".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions on Thursday, for what he described as the "illegitimate" targeting of Israel and the US.

The sanctions are in response to the ICC issuing arrest warrants for top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and its investigation into alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan.

Türk said he was "profoundly disturbed" by the sanctions and called for their "prompt reconsideration and withdrawal".

The four judges named are all women: Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin, and Beti Hohler of Slovenia.

The ICC has responded in a statement, saying it "deplores" the sanctions, which were "a clear attempt to undermine" its independence.

The measures require all property and interests owned by the judges in the US to be blocked and reported to the Treasury department.

Netanyahu thanked Rubio and US President Donald Trump for the intervention, saying they had "stood up for the right of Israel".

Rubio accused the judges of "illegitimate and baseless actions" targeting Israel and the US in a statement.

He also described the ICC as "politicised" and said it "falsely claims unfettered discretion" to investigate nationals of the US and its allies.

"This dangerous assertion and abuse of power infringes upon the sovereignty and national security of the United States and our allies, including Israel," Rubio added.

In its response, the ICC said it "stands fully behind its personnel" and will continue its work "undeterred".

"Targeting those working for accountability does nothing to help civilians trapped in conflict," the court said.

"These sanctions are not only directed at designated individuals, they also target all those who support the Court... They are aimed against innocent victims in all situations before the Court."

The ICC is a global court with the power to bring prosecutions for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Last year, it issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israel's former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

An arrest warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif was also issued, but Hamas later confirmed he had been killed in an airstrike.

The judges said there were "reasonable grounds" the three men bore "criminal responsibility" for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Both Israel and Hamas have rejected the allegations.

In February, Trump imposed economic sanctions against the ICC, including against its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, saying the court had "abused its power".

In Thursday's announcement, the US State Department said two of the judges, Bossa and Ibáñez Carranza, had authorised the ICC's investigation against US personnel in Afghanistan.

The other two judges, Alapini Gansou and Hohler, had ruled to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.