UN criticises latest US sanctions on ICC judges
The United Nations has condemned Washington for intensifying “reprisals” against international institutions, after the Trump administration slapped sanctions on two more International Criminal Court judges over their investigation of Israel.
The judges hit with US sanctions on Thursday – Gocha Lordkipanidze of Georgia and Erdenebalsuren Damdin of Mongolia – had voted earlier this week to reject a challenge by Israel which sought to end a war crimes probe in Gaza.
The United States has already sanctioned nine ICC judges and prosecutors for their probes of alleged Israeli war crimes.
“Yesterday’s announcement of US sanctions against two more [ICC] judges … represents a further intensification of reprisals against international institutions,” the UN rights office said on X.
“Such targeting of judges, as well as prosecutors and UN experts, runs counter to the rule of law and administration of justice.”
Gaza ceasefire must be ‘fully implemented’: Guterres
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says it is “crucial” to move to phase two of the ceasefire in Gaza.
“I think it’s very important to move with the peace process as a whole … [and] to make sure that phase one, and namely the ceasefire, are fully implemented,” Guterres said during a news conference in New York.
Guterres also said humanitarian needs in Gaza are growing faster than aid can get in, and called on Israel to open more border crossings.
“Buildings – already battered by bombardment – are collapsing under the weight of rain and wind, claiming more civilian lives,” he said. “Water and sanitation services, hospitals, and bakeries are struggling to recover from destruction, supply shortages, and continued restrictions on what can enter.”
He continued, “Strikes and hostilities continue, pushing the civilian toll of this war even higher and exposing our teams to grave danger.”
Guterres pushed for the opening of border crossings, the lifting of restrictions on critical items, the creation of safe routes inside Gaza, and unimpeded access.
‘We have nations acceptable to all sides’ for Gaza international force: Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been addressing reporters in Washington, DC, where he also discussed Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. He said:
- The Gaza war is no longer going on in the scale and scope that was happening before, but there is still much work to be done.
- It is a long-term project to move to the second and third phases of the ceasefire, and some of the work will extend beyond this administration.
- The countries we have reached out to in order to send troops to Gaza, including Pakistan, want to know the specific mandate of the mission.
- We owe them answers before asking them to firmly commit, but I’m confident that we have a number of nations acceptable to all sides willing to step forward and be part of the international stabilisation force.
- The next step will be announcing the Palestinian technocratic force that will run daily operations before stabilisation.
