EU Stands with ICC as U.S. sanctions target its leadership

The European Union publicly backs the International Criminal Court after the United States sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior prosecutor Abdoulaye Seye, saying judges must be able to work independently without external pressure. Germany and the Netherlands expressed support or concern, while the ICC denounced the sanctions as an attack on its independence amid Washington’s broader aim to curb the court’s reach over officials from non-member states in Gaza-related cases.