Amsterdam/Brussels, 7 February 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday condemned sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump.

"The Court stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world," it said in a statement.

"We call on our 125 States Parties, civil society and all nations of the world to stand united for justice and fundamental human rights," added the court, based in the Dutch city of The Hague.

Trump signed an executive order approving sanctions against the court on Thursday, arguing the ICC "abused its power by issuing baseless arrest warrants targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Former Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant."

International arrest warrants were issued last year against Netanyahu and Israel's then-defence minister Gallant for alleged war crimes in the Gaza war.

Trump's order sanctions employees and supporters of the court who are involved in investigations, indictments or arrest warrants against US personnel or allies such as Israel.

According to the order, assets are to be frozen, and US persons and companies are prohibited from financial and economic transactions with them.

"Sanctioning the ICC threatens the Court’s independence and undermines the international criminal justice system as a whole," wrote European Council President Antonio Costa on X, a day after he met with ICC President Tomoko Akane.

"Europe will always stand for justice and the respect of international law," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X. "The ICC guarantees accountability for international crimes and gives a voice to victims worldwide. It must be able to freely pursue the fight against global impunity."

A spokesman for EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas said, "The EU expresses its regret regarding the US executive order allowing to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court."

"The executive order could represent a serious challenge to the work of the ICC with the risks of affecting ongoing investigations and proceedings, including as regards Ukraine, impacting years of efforts to ensure accountability around the world," he added.

MIA file photo