(February 6, 2025, Washington, D.C.) – In response to the issuance of President Trump's executive order creating sanctions for employees of the International Criminal Court and other individuals the U.S. government determines are assisting the court in investigations against members of the military and other officials from the U.S., Israel, and other U.S. allies, DAWN issues the following:
"Though he has promised to put America first and avoid entangling our country in new wars, President Trump is now picking a fight with the International Criminal Court and inviting global scorn and condemnation against the U.S. merely to satisfy the demands of his pro-Israel donors," said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of DAWN. "Rather than wasting American power to shield Israeli war criminals like Netanyahu from accountability, he should focus his time and attention to addressing the real needs of the American people."
"It should come as no surprise that President Trump is trying to destroy the International Criminal Court just days after declaring his intention to violate the most foundational international law, the prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force, by 'taking' Gaza," said Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, director of research for Israel-Palestine at DAWN. "The court can and should indict President Trump not only for his Executive Order's blatant obstruction of justice but for the crime of aggression if he follows through on the absurd plan to depopulate Gaza and 'own' it."
