{
  "id": 1820804,
  "title": "Netherlands slams US sanctions on top ICC officials",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/netherlands-slams-us-sanctions-on-top-icc-officials",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T22:48:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/netherlands-tom-berendsen-slams-trump-sanctions-icc-president-gaza-investigator/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Tuesday, Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen criticized the United States for sanctioning two senior officials at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over probes into alleged Israeli actions in Gaza. Earlier, Washington had sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. Berendsen expressed disapproval of the sanctions, emphasizing that international courts must operate freely. He reaffirmed the Netherlands' full support for the court and invited Akane for discussions to maintain this support. The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, accused the ICC of threatening American sovereignty, claiming the administration was safeguarding citizens from a \"sham\" institution and would not permit Americans to be tried for fabricated offenses. Washington's sanctions, part of a broader campaign since last month, have targeted at least 11 ICC officials and called on the court's 125 member states to withdraw. The ICC, based in The Hague and founded in 2002, prosecutes genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, including issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The U.S., which sees Netanyahu as a wanted individual for alleged war crimes in Gaza, praised the sanctions, calling the ICC a \"kangaroo court\" and supporting the administration's stance.",
  "summary": "The Dutch foreign minister expressed support for the court’s president and demanded that international tribunals \"be able to freely carry out their mandates.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}