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US Sanctions Two ICC Judges Following Rejection of Israel’s Appeal in Gaza War Crimes Case
12-23-2025
WASHINGTON — The United States has imposed sanctions on two judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) after the court rejected Israel’s legal challenge to arrest warrants related to alleged war crimes committed in Gaza since October 2023.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against ICC Appeals Chamber judges Gocha Lordkipanidze of Georgia and Erdenebalsuren Damdin of Mongolia, citing President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14203, issued in February, which authorizes punitive measures against ICC officials involved in actions targeting nationals of countries not party to the Rome Statute.
According to Rubio, the judges were sanctioned for “directly engaging in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute Israeli nationals without Israel’s consent,” including their vote in favor of a December 15 ruling that rejected Israel’s appeal.
The sanctions include travel bans to the United States for the judges and their immediate family members, as well as the freezing of any assets they may hold within US jurisdiction.
On December 15, the ICC Appeals Chamber dismissed Israel’s argument that the court lacked jurisdiction because it had not issued a new notification covering events following the October 7, 2023 attacks. The judges ruled that a 2021 notification to Israel regarding the ICC’s jurisdiction over alleged crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories was sufficient and remained applicable to subsequent events.
The ruling upheld arrest warrants previously issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a move that the US government described as politically motivated.
Rubio characterized the ICC’s actions as “politicized” and accused the court of conducting “lawfare” against Israel, reiterating that neither the United States nor Israel is a party to the Rome Statute and therefore rejects the court’s jurisdiction.
This marks the third round of US sanctions related to the ICC since early 2025. In February, sanctions were imposed on then-ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, followed by measures in June against four ICC judges. Additional sanctions were announced in August against two judges and two deputy judges from several countries.
The move drew criticism from the Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties, the ICC’s governing body, which described the sanctions as attempts to undermine the court’s independence and judicial functions. Human Rights Watch has also warned that such measures place international justice “at risk.”
Rubio dismissed the criticism, stating that the United States would continue to impose “significant and tangible consequences” in response to what it views as the ICC’s overreach.
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