Former ICC Prosecutor Urges EU to Block US Sanctions on Court Members
Fatou Bensouda, a former prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), has called for the European Union to enact a statute that would block US sanctions imposed on ICC members. These sanctions, described by Bensouda as 'thuggish' and 'bullying,' were imposed by the US in February 2025 on 11 ICC officials, including nine judges and the chief prosecutor, as well as three Palestinian organizations. The sanctions were a response to the ICC's decision in 2024 to issue arrest warrants for members of the Israeli cabinet, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes, effectively locking judges out of the European financial system and impacting their ability to live normal lives. Bensouda emphasized the need for structural resistance and coordinated legal mechanisms to protect ICC officials from politically motivated sanctions. 
