Spain regrets new US sanctions against four ICC judges who judged Netanyahu

Eduardo González Spain on Friday regretted the new sanctions imposed by the US government against four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) who issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Spain expresses its firm support for the International Criminal Court, the cornerstone of the international criminal justice system, and rejects any type of interference in its work," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement. "The Court's work is essential for accountability for the most serious crimes against humanity," it added. The ICC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled, "receives its mandate from the 125 Member States of the Rome Statute," and its work "is key to providing reparation for victims and maintaining international peace and security." "Spain will continue to fulfill its obligations under the Rome Statute and international law, respecting and guaranteeing the Court's full jurisdiction," it concluded. The US administration of Donald Trump sanctioned four ICC judges on Thursday, deeming their arrest warrant against Netanyahu and their investigations into US soldiers "unlawful." Under these sanctions, the four judges will be barred from entering the United States and their property in the country will be frozen. "Thank you, President (Donald) Trump and Secretary of State (Marco) Rubio for sanctioning the politicized ICC judges. You ensure the right of Israel, the United States, and all democracies to defend themselves against savage terrorism," Netanyahu wrote on the social media platform X. Previously, Rubio had declared that "the United States will take all measures it deems necessary to protect our sovereignty, that of Israel, and that of any other US ally from the unlawful actions of the ICC," a "politicized" body that acts "without limits to investigate, indict, and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies." The United States and Israel are not parties to the Rome Statute that established the ICC. The Hague-based court denounced in a statement that the US decision is "a blatant attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution that operates under the mandate of 125 member states from around the world." For their part, the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed the European Union's "strong support" for the court, which "does not confront any nation, but rather confronts impunity."

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