US President Donald Trump on October 9 imposed major sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). The decision came hours after Navi Pillai, an Indian-origin South African law expert, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Pillai has previously served as an ICC judge. The US decision has created a financial and technical crisis for the war crimes tribunal. The question is whether 125 member countries of the world can save this court together?

For the first time, the US has targeted the entire ICC body. Previously, restrictions were imposed on court judges and lawyers. The new decision deals with companies that provide banking, software and other services to the ICC. Under the sanctions, American companies cannot provide these services to the ICC. Transactions in US dollars will also be affected. These companies have been given 6 months to stop doing business with ICC. Some essential services are also exempted. The new US decision may affect court employees’ salaries, insurance, data storage and investigative work.

Why is America upset with ICC?

America’s biggest protest is over the arrest warrant issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the previous investigation into the conduct of American troops in Afghanistan. The US and Israel are not members of the ICC. The US government says the court should not have the power to prosecute its citizens. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the ICC a threat to US sovereignty. He said America will not allow this court to try its citizens. He also asked the member states to put pressure on the court.

What does Navi Pillai have to do with getting a Nobel?

Navi Pillai is involved in the legal battle against apartheid in South Africa. He was a judge at the ICC Court of Appeal from 2003 to 2008. He has also held important responsibilities in United Nations (UN) human rights affairs. The Nobel Committee honored him for his work for international law and justice. The committee said their support is essential at a time when political pressure is mounting on international courts and judges. There was certainly a gap of a few hours between receiving the Nobel Prize and the ICC ban, but the US did not cite the Nobel Prize as the reason for the ban. Trump has been trying to win the Nobel Peace Prize for two consecutive years. This time too he was disappointed.

What is the ICC and what leaders did it take action against?

ICC was started in 2002. It is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. This court investigates war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. It has 125 member countries. The court has issued arrest warrants against more than 70 people. These include names like Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin, former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Warrants have also been issued against people linked to Hamas. However, the court does not have its own police. He needs the cooperation of countries to catch the accused.

Will sanctions prevent war crimes investigations?

Sanctions may make the ICC’s work difficult, but investigations will not automatically stop. The court has about 900 employees, who come from about 100 countries. Bank accounts, credit cards, email, data storage and the services of outside experts for investigation may be affected due to US sanctions. In view of this threat, the ICC is already adopting open source alternatives to Microsoft software. New arrangements are also being made for banking and health insurance. ICC Deputy Prosecutor Najahat Shamim Khan said the court’s investigation and trial would continue.

Can 125 member states save the ICC?

The ICC has sought help from its member states. The court said that it cannot face this crisis alone. All 27 countries of the European Union (EU) are members of the ICC. Apart from America and Turkey, other countries of NATO are also members. EU companies can use special laws to protect them from US sanctions. This is called a blocking statue. However, no decision has yet been taken regarding its implementation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also warned that sanctions could undermine efforts to hold people accountable for serious crimes.

Now what is the biggest question?

The US wants the ICC to stop prosecuting American and Israeli officials. On the other hand, the court says that its job is to deliver justice based on law. Member States will now have to decide how much financial, technical and legal assistance they will provide to the Court. No closure of the investigation has been announced at this time, but justice may be delayed if the ban continues for long.

What is the difference between ICC and ICJ?

The ICC (International Criminal Court) prosecutes individuals for serious international crimes, while the ICJ (International Court of Justice) hears legal disputes between states. The ICJ was established in 1945 under the UN Charter. He started working in April 1946. It is also headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. Criminal cases are heard at the ICC, while the ICJ is a civil court. The ICC can prosecute anyone for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. At the same time, disputes such as sovereignty, water disputes and trade disputes are resolved in the ICJ.