Political Retaliation Over Law: Trump Undermines Protections Against Crimes Against Humanity Dear Email, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) strongly condemns the decision by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impose sanctions on two judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) from Mongolia and Georgia, who earlier this week voted against Israel’s appeal challenging the Court’s jurisdiction to investigate suspected crimes committed in Gaza. This is not the first time the Trump administration has targeted the ICC in an attempt to obstruct its work under its founding charter. In March of this year, the administration imposed sanctions on two judges (one French and one Canadian) as well as two prosecutors, citing their involvement in investigations or arrest warrants against American or Israeli nationals.  Rubio’s justification for these sanctions exposes the blatant collusion of the U.S. government with Israel in shielding it from accountability for war crimes and genocide in Gaza. He claimed “we will not tolerate ICC violations that unlawfully subject American and Israeli citizens to the ICC’s jurisdiction,” and accused the Court of “engaging in politicized actions targeting Israel in a dangerous precedent for all nations.” In parallel, Israel’s representative to the United Nations, Danny Danon, congratulated President Donald Trump and Secretary Rubio for imposing sanctions, alleging that the ICC’s “politicization and persecution of Israel crosses red lines.” These new U.S. sanctions follow the ICC Appeals Chamber’s rejection of Israel’s objection to arrest warrants issued in November 2024 against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who were charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The Trump administration’s harassment of ICC judges and prosecutors is not only blatantly dishonest, but it also demonstrates its disregard for international law and even for U.S. laws that prohibit military support to states or entities committing crimes against humanity. Such actions add to the grave and legitimate doubts that already exist in regard to Washington’s credibility as a mediator and guarantor in ceasefire agreements—agreements Israel has continued to violate daily for over two months. Claims that the ICC is acting out of political bias are a deliberate distortion meant to shield Israel from accountability, not a reflection of the court’s mandate or record. The crimes under investigation have been exhaustively documented by international human rights bodies, UN agencies, and independent observers. By harassing ICC officials, the Trump administration is engaging in overt political retaliation that undermines both international legal norms and U.S. statutes prohibiting support for governments committing crimes against humanity. AMP calls on the Trump administration to rescind these sanctions, to uphold international law and U.S. law, and to end its selective and politicized approach to respecting international legal norms. In solidarity, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) | 
