US sanctions International Criminal Court officials

The Trump administration sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, accusing the court of overreach against nations that never joined it.

Japan, the Netherlands, and other allies criticized the move as 'very unfortunate' and a 'flagrant attack' on judicial independence.

The ICC said the sanctions were an attack on the court's independence and the international rules-based order.

The move escalates the US administration's confrontation with the international court over its investigations into US and Israeli actions.