Rubio sanctions ICC for 'targeting' Israel and US

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced his department will impose sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for "illegitimate" targeting of Israel and the US.

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

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 are "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.

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

"These four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC's illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel," he said.

Rubio also described the ICC as "politicized" 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."

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 was killed in an airstrike last year.

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, US President Donald Trump imposed economic sanctions against the ICC, including against its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, and said 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.