Meanwhile, Rubio just threw the hammer down on 4 international judges for ‘infringing on US’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced devastating sanctions on Thursday against four International Criminal Court (ICC) judges.

The first two judges, Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda and Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza of Peru, are accused of having ruled in 2020 to authorize the ICC to launch a probe into alleged war crimes committed by U.S. personnel in Afghanistan, according to CNN.

The second two judges, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin and Beti Hohler of Slovenia, are accused of having ruled in November to authorize the ICC to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

In a statement published to X on Thursday, Rubio lumped all four together as he announced the sanctions:

The @IntlCrimCourt’s baseless and politicized targeting of America and our close ally Israel must end. Today, I have sanctioned four ICC judges for infringing on U.S. and Israeli sovereignty – two who authorized the ICC’s baseless investigation into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 5, 2025

“Today, I have sanctioned four ICC judges for infringing on U.S. and Israeli sovereignty – two who authorized the ICC’s baseless investigation into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan and two who authorized the ICC’s illegitimate arrest warrants targeting @IsraeliPM Netanyahu and former Defense Minister @YoavGallant,” he wrote. “We call on our allies to stand with us against this disgraceful attack.”

In an official statement released through the State Department, Rubio added, “The ICC is politicized and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge, and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies. This dangerous assertion and abuse of power infringes upon the sovereignty and national security of the United States and our allies, including Israel.”

The ICC fired back afterward with a lengthy statement claiming that the Trump administration was trying to “undermine” its independence.

“These measures are a clear attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution which operates under the mandate from 125 States Parties from all corners of the globe,” the ICC said.

“The ICC provides justice and hope to millions of victims of unimaginable atrocities, in strict adherence to the Rome Statute, and maintains the highest standards in protecting the rights of suspects and the victims,” the international body added.

The International Criminal Court deplores new sanctions from the US administration against #ICC Officials ⤵️ https://t.co/Ssh34yliFu

— Int’l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) June 5, 2025

All this comes months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February authorizing sanctions against the entire ICC over its continued attacks on Israel.

“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 Associated Press reported at the time.

“The ICC has no jurisdiction over the United States or Israel,” the executive order read.

The court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israel’s leaders also ticked off the American Jewish Committee (AJC).

“Equating the leaders of a democratic state exercising its right to self-defense with a terrorist organization responsible for the rape, murder and mutilation of over 1,200 innocent people, the kidnapping of 251, and the continued captivity of 101, is an intentional distortion of justice, morality, and international law founded on virulent anti-Israel animus,” AJC CEO Ted Deutch said in a statement.

Rubio has received widespread praise for the sanctions he announced Thursday:

TBH @SecRubio – you continue to exceed my expectations for articulating the case of USA world interests. You are the right ambassador at these times for the often voiceless US citizens. G_d bless.

— Sunflower Grower (@Sskramer001) June 6, 2025

Thank you Secretary Rubio. You are right. The ICC’s dangerous abuse of power and illegitimate infringement of sovereignty and national security of democracies fighting terrorism like the US and Israel must stop.

— Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) June 5, 2025

Kudos Secretary Marco Rubio

Thank you for your courageous and unwavering support for Israel, and thank you for calling out the corrupt judges that have besmirched the International Criminal Court.

— melkezedech ✡️✝️️ (@melkezedech) June 6, 2025

Thank you, @SecRubio, for taking a stand! The ICC is increasingly overrun by woke and Islamist judges who push biased agendas. Like-minded countries like the US, Israel, and India must stand together to protect our sovereignty and fight for justice on our terms.

— PM (@naannomad) June 5, 2025

Senior Staff Writer
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.

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