Part 15/16:
The US and Israel are not members of the ICC, which has long faced criticism for targeting Israel while largely ignoring human rights abuses elsewhere, notably in Iran. During Trump’s first term, the US revoked the ICC prosecutor’s visa and openly threatened force to prevent the court from detaining American citizens. The Biden administration has adopted a softer stance but maintains concerns over the court’s perceived bias.
Meanwhile, the ICC has taken measures to protect its staff from potential US sanctions, including paying salaries months in advance. Nonetheless, the court’s president warns that US sanctions could significantly undermine its operations and possibly threaten its existence, exposing ongoing tensions between the US and this international tribunal.