The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected new sanctions announced by the United States on Wednesday targeting four of its personnel.
The sanctions were directed at judges Kimberly Prost of Canada and Nicolas Guillou of France, as well as two deputy prosecutors: Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang.
These measures followed earlier sanctions against four other judges and the ICC Prosecutor.
The United Nations emphasised the ICCs crucial role in international criminal justice and expressed concern over the imposition of further sanctions.
The decision imposes severe impediments on the functioning of the Office of the Prosecutor and respect for all situations currently before the Court, UN Spokesman St�phane Dujarric told journalists in New York.
Judicial independence is a fundamental principle that must be respected, and these types of measures undermine the foundation of international justice.
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In a statement announcing the new sanctions, U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, described the ICC as a national security threat that has been an instrument for lawfare against the U.S. and its close ally, Israel.
The UN-backed court condemned the sanctions as a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution.
The court further stated that the sanctions constitute an affront against the Courts States Parties, the rules-based international order, and, above all, millions of innocent victims across the world.
The ICC investigates the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
It was established under the 1998 Rome Statute treaty, which came into force in 2002.
Neither the U.S. nor Israel is among the 125 States Parties to the treaty.
