International Criminal Court (ICC) condemns US sanctions on officials, says it "stands firmly" by its personnel

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has vowed to continue its judicial work after US President Donald Trump signed an order to impose sanctions on its staff. The ICC said it "stands firmly" by its personnel and the order seeks to harm its "independent and impartial" work.

Trump's order accuses it of "illegitimate and baseless actions", after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza, which Israel denies. The ICC also issued a warrant for a Hamas commander.

The ICC is a global court, although the US and Israel are not members, with the power to bring prosecutions for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

In its statement, it said: "The ICC condemns the issuance by the US of an executive order seeking to impose sanctions on its officials and harm its independent and impartial judicial work."

It added it stood by its personnel, pledging "to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world".

In recent years, the court has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, Taliban leaders for "persecuting Afghan girls and women" and Myanmar's military leader for crimes against the Rohingya Muslims.

More than 120 countries are members, including the UK and many European nations.

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