Madrid: Spain strongly condemned the announcement of new sanctions adopted by the United States against two judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), alleging their direct involvement in politically motivated and illegal actions against the Israeli occupation.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Friday, declaring that these sanctions represent a new attack on the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the ICC. The court plays an indispensable role in ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes against humanity and in contributing to the reparation of victims, the statement added.
Spain reaffirmed its unequivocal support for the court and expressed its full solidarity with the judges, prosecutors, and all ICC staff affected by these decisions. The statement emphasized Spain's commitment to fully comply with its obligations under the Rome Statute and international law, ensuring respect for and the full exercise of the court's jurisdiction.
The Spanish response came in reaction to Washington's announcement on Thursday of sanctions against ICC judges Gocha Lordkipanidze and Erdenebalsuren Damdin. The US sanctions were imposed following the judges' decision to join the majority in rejecting an Israeli occupation appeal seeking to block an ongoing ICC probe into possible war crimes in Gaza. The court described the US move as a flagrant attack on the independence of an international judicial body.