A group of countries working together to support international law has raised concerns at the United Nations about the United States possibly imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), a body that tries individuals for serious crimes like genocide and war crimes. During a meeting at the UN General Assembly, South Africa’s foreign minister, Ronald Lamola, warned that such actions could threaten the ICC’s ability to function. The meeting was organized by the Hague Group, a coalition formed in 2025 to protect international legal institutions like the ICC and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Lamola noted that the U.S. has already sanctioned ICC judges and prosecutors, and is now considering sanctions against the court itself. He emphasized that for the ICC to remain independent, its judges and officials must not face punishment for doing their jobs. The U.S. has sanctioned two ICC officials—Judge Tomoko Akane of Japan and Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal—for their work on cases involving leaders from countries that have not accepted ICC jurisdiction. The Japanese prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, criticized the U.S. action against Judge Akane. The U.S. has openly stated its goal of weakening the ICC. Former President Donald Trump called the court "out of control" and an "evil group of people" during his 2020 UN speech, urging other nations to reject it. Current U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, who previously served as secretary of state, accused the ICC of being a "corrupt and fatally politicised" institution that has overstepped its authority and threatened national sovereignty. The next potential U.S. move may involve secondary sanctions targeting individuals or companies that work with the ICC. This could impact European banks, insurers, and tech firms in the Netherlands, where the ICC is based. The Dutch government, which hosts the ICC, is working to prevent actions that might cripple the court. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten emphasized at the UN that international law must apply to all or none, and that the ICC plays a crucial role in preventing impunity, rooted in the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials after World War II. He urged the U.S. to stop interfering with the ICC and other legal institutions. International law expert William Schabas pointed out the irony that while the use of international courts is growing, these institutions are facing increasing attacks. He suggested that strengthening the ICC would require ensuring that only the most qualified judges are selected and that political appointments are avoided. Diana Buttu, a Palestinian lawyer, criticized Western countries for applying international law selectively, arguing that the biggest threat to the system is not states that openly defy it, but the unequal enforcement of rules, where powerful allies are often exempt from scrutiny.