Berendsen: Netherlands “disapproves” of new Trump ICC sanctions

Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen has expressed disapproval of the recent sanctions imposed by the Trump administration against officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague. Berendsen argued that international courts must be able to freely carry out their mandates, following the sanctions against the court's president, Tomoko Akane, and senior prosecutor Abdoulaye Saye.

The US government justified the sanctions, claiming that Akane and Saye had been directly involved in investigations, arrests, detentions, and prosecutions of officials who had not consented to ICC jurisdiction. Saye served on the prosecution team that drafted arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant 18 months prior.

The US and Israel are not signatories to the ICC's founding statutes, but Palestine is. In 2021, the ICC ruled that Gaza and the West Bank fell under its jurisdiction. Berendsen shared his thoughts on social media, stating that the Netherlands disapproves of the latest sanctions against ICC officials and staff. He extended an offer to meet Akane to discuss continued support.

Berendsen did not directly condemn the US government's actions. The Dutch foreign minister emphasized the importance of international courts and tribunals being able to freely carry out their mandates.