US sanctions ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan

Published Aug 19, 01:17 AM UTC

On August 18, 2026, the United States imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane of Japan and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the sanctions target individuals who have directly engaged in ICC efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials from countries that have not consented to ICC jurisdiction. The ICC responded that the sanctions undermine the rule of law and threaten the international legal order. The move is largely seen as a response to the ICC's 2024 arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Gaza war. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu applauded the sanctions, calling the ICC a 'kangaroo court.' The Netherlands expressed disapproval, stating international courts must be able to carry out their mandates freely. The U.S., which is not an ICC party, has previously sanctioned other ICC officials and recently launched a diplomatic offensive against the court.