NGOs challenge US sanctions against International Criminal Court

A coalition of 38 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has submitted a joint opinion to the U.S. Federal Court for the Southern District of New York regarding sanctions imposed by the Trump administration against the International Criminal Court (ICC). The group, which includes Amnesty International, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Human Rights Watch, and the Open Society Institute, argues that these sanctions undermine access to justice for victims and weaken the connection between civil society and the court.

The NGOs contend that the sanctions violate constitutional rights and impede the activities of human rights groups. They specifically noted that the measures target not only judges but also organizations and individuals, such as UN Palestinian Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, thereby chilling freedom of expression and assembly.

The legal dispute follows ICC actions, including arrest warrants issued in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant concerning alleged war crimes in Gaza. The U.S. response included sanctions against ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan in June 2025.