Former ICC prosecutor urges EU to block U.S. sanctions

Former International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is calling on the European Union to activate a mechanism that would prevent European companies and institutions from complying with U.S. sanctions targeting ICC members. The U.S. government imposed financial and travel sanctions on ICC judges, prosecutors, and staff after the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders concerning alleged war crimes in Gaza.

In a speech analyzed by The Guardian's diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour, Bensouda described these sanctions not merely as political pressure but as a direct assault on the independence of international justice. She highlighted the ICC's vulnerability when major powers leverage economic and diplomatic might to shield their allies. Bensouda specifically criticized the muted reaction from European nations, who publicly support international law but, in her view, have failed to provide concrete protection for court personnel.

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such sanctions are not just political pressure, but a direct attack on the independence of international justice.

Bensouda champions an EU legal instrument, originally developed in the 1990s to counter U.S. sanctions against Cuba, Iran, and Libya. Such a regulation would prohibit European companies from enforcing U.S. sanctions within EU territory and offer legal recourse to affected individuals. This call to action comes from a prosecutor known for her determined approach throughout her tenure at the ICC, which coincided with a challenging period for international criminal law.

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the lukewarm response of European countries, who publicly support international law, but according to her have not provided concrete protection for court employees.