Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen criticized the United States on August 19, 2026, after Washington imposed sanctions on two senior officials at the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to investigations into alleged Israeli actions in Gaza. The sanctioned officials are ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. Berendsen stated on social media platform X that the Netherlands disapproves of these sanctions and emphasized the importance of international courts being able to operate freely. He noted that the Netherlands fully supports the ICC and has invited Akane for discussions on continued support.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the sanctions, claiming that the ICC poses a threat to American sovereignty and that the U.S. will not allow its citizens to be tried by what he described as a 'sham' institution. The recent sanctions are part of a broader U.S. initiative against the ICC, which has included sanctions on at least 11 officials and calls for member states to withdraw from the court.
The ICC, established in 2002, is responsible for prosecuting serious international crimes, including genocide and war crimes. The court's investigations into Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have been contentious. The ICC issued a statement asserting that punitive measures against its officials undermine the rule of law and threaten the international legal framework. Netanyahu responded positively to the U.S. sanctions, calling the ICC a 'kangaroo court' and commending Rubio for the actions taken against its officials.