Escalating Tensions: Trump Defends Netanyahu, Prepares Attack to Dismantle ICC
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to paralysing the International Criminal Court (ICC). US President Donald Trump has openly confirmed that Washington’s hardline stance is being taken to defend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the pursuit of arrest warrants issued by the global judicial body.
Citing reports from The Times of Israel, Rubio levelled harsh criticism against the Hague-based institution during a cabinet meeting at Camp David. Rubio argued that the ICC has lost its legitimacy by arrogantly imposing its jurisdiction and legal authority over non-member states.
“We have tried to ask them to reform and listen to our input, but they have refused and are very arrogant. Therefore, we are now initiating real efforts to subdue them,” stated US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump responded to the statement by emphasising that the efforts to weaken the ICC are not focused on protecting himself. “He (Rubio) is fighting to defend Bibi (Netanyahu) and several other parties,” Trump added.
Rubio’s manoeuvre was launched several weeks after he leaked Washington’s strategic plan to “dissolve” the ICC. The US has long rejected the ICC’s authority to investigate or prosecute its citizens, particularly US military personnel.
The ICC was established by the international community in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. The institution only holds jurisdiction if member states are unable or unwilling to prosecute such crimes themselves; notably, neither the US nor Israel are founding members.
Trump’s hostile stance towards the ICC has persisted since his first term and has intensified following his re-election in November 2024. The plan to impose sanctions on ICC officials was designed following the court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.
The Israeli government has vehemently rejected the arrest warrants, labelling the ICC’s actions as biased and antisemitic. Tel Aviv maintains that it does not recognise the jurisdiction of the Hague court, adding that the membership of the Palestinian Authority does not automatically grant the ICC the right to prosecute Israeli leaders under the Oslo Accords.