ICC President: We will not yield to US pressure
Tomoko Akane, President of the International Criminal Court, in response to US sanctions against the court’s officials, emphasized that this institution should never be shut down and will continue its activities.
Akane said that despite US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sanctioning her and another colleague last week, she has no intention of surrendering or stepping down.
She referred to other judges who have previously been targeted by sanctions, saying that despite the challenges created, they have not lost their motivation to continue working, and she intends to follow the same path.
Tensions between Washington and the International Criminal Court have escalated following the court’s actions against Israeli officials. In November 2024, the court issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.