Rubio sanctions International Criminal Court officials for efforts to arrest Americans, Israelis

"The Court is a national security threat that has been an instrument for lawfare against the United States and our close ally Israel," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said

By Natalia Mittelstadt

Published: August 20, 2025 1:44pm

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday sanctioned International Criminal Court officials for their efforts to arrest Americans and Israelis.

Rubio announced that he is sanctioning Kimberly Prost ,of Canada; Nicolas Guillou, of France; Nazhat Shameem Khan, of Fiji; and Mame Mandiaye Niang, of Senegal. They are involved in the ICC's efforts "to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel, without the consent of either nation," Rubio said.

"The United States has been clear and steadfast in our opposition to the ICC’s politicization, abuse of power, disregard for our national sovereignty, and illegitimate judicial overreach," he also said.

"The Court is a national security threat that has been an instrument for lawfare against the United States and our close ally Israel. It remains the policy of the United States Government to take whatever actions we deem necessary to protect our troops, our sovereignty, and our allies from the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions."

Rubio urged "countries that still support the ICC, many of whose freedom was purchased at the price of great American sacrifices, to resist the claims of this bankrupt institution."

The sanctions are in line with President Trump's February executive order on sanctions against the ICC, Rubio noted.

ICC judges in November released arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ex-Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and former Hamas commander Ibrahim al-Masri, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity for the conflict between Israel and Gaza, The Hill news outlet reported.

Prost was sanctioned for a ruling that allowed an investigation U.S. personnel in Afghanistan. Guillou ruled to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. Khan and Niang, ICC's deputy prosecutors, were sanctioned for “continuing to support illegitimate ICC actions against” Israel, including upholding the ICC’s arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.